, '' ■' '-' SCENES 



ADVENTURES 



IN 



AFRICA, 



COLLECTED FROM 



MOFFAT'S MISSIONARY LABOURS IN AFRICA, 



PHILADELPHIA: 

PRESBYTERIAN BOARD OP PUBLICATION. 

PAUL T. JONES, PrsLISHING AGENT. 

1844. 







Printed by 

WILLIAM S. MARTIEN. 



CONTENTS. 

Page. 

Preface, - - 13 

Introduction, - - - - - - - -17 

The Lion and Giraffe, ^ ----- 25 

The Deserted Mother, 27 

Singular Traits of the Lion, 30 

The Fright, 33 

Thirst in the Desert, ------ 35 

The Narrow Escape, - - - - - - 36 

Beasts of Prey, -38 

The Poisoned Pool, 40 

Heat and Thirst, 41 

The Storm, 47 

The Wild Dog, 50 

The Sea Cow, 51 

The Assault andjVEurder, 52 

Stratagem for Taking Game, 57 

Burial of the Dead, 58 

Wild Dogs Hunting, 60 

The Hyena, 63 

Retribution, 64 



12 CONTENTS. 

Page. 
The Locusts, 67 

The Thieves, 71 

The Lions at Night, 73 

A Night Adventure, ...... 77 

Singular Custom, 79 

The Native Blacksmith, 80 

Houses in a Tree, - 83 

Native Eloquence, 85 

The Captive Redeemed, ..... 88 

Escape from a Tiger, 92 

The Convert, 93 

Missionary Success, 96 

Preaching to the Natives, 102 

Teaching the Letters, 105 

Change Effected, - - 108 

The Contest, - - - - - - - 111 



PREFACE. 



The following sketches are extracted 
from a deeply interesting work written 
by tlie Rev., Robert Moffat, descriptive 
of his missionary labours and personal 
trials in Southern Africa. Amidst a 
rude and barbarous people, destitute of 
the advantages of Christian institutions, 
and engaged in constant and cruel war- 
fare, the situation of the missionary was 
one of great privation and peril. His 
courage, however, seemed to increase 
with the number and magnitude of his 
difficulties, and being anxiously desir- 
ous of communicating to these poor 
benighted people the blessings of the 
Gospel, he resolved to remain at his post 
at every personal hazard. He tried every 
winning method to gain their attention 



14 PREFACE. 

and confidence, and to induce them to 
abandon their savage habits. Long he 
seemed to labour in vain, but at length 
he had the unspeakable gratification of 
seeing them gradually adopting the cus- 
toms of civilized life, and what v^as still 
better, embracing that religion which 
reveals the only way of salvation. Some 
of these sketches will point out the pleas- 
ing success of his pious efforts to raise 
the character and hopes of the degraded 
African. 

From the nature of the country, which 
is wild and uncultivated, the traveller 
through Southern Africa, is exposed to 
oppressive heat, hunger and thirst, and 
to the attacks of savage beasts of prey. 
Mr. Moffat encountered all these, in his 
various journeys, with great endurance 
and courage. Many of his adventures 
we have, in'^this little volume, brought 
together, not only for the entertainment 
of our young readers, but to give them 
an insight into the state of the country. 



PREFACE. 15 

The natural history of animals forms a 
pleasing subject of study, and we shall 
have accomplished one of our objects if, 
by these sketches, we inspire a taste for 
such studies. All the works of God 
display his power and wisdom, and the 
more closely we regard them, the more 
we will be inclined to reverence the 
great Creator. Another object, however, 
we have in view. While our young 
readers are entertaining themselves with 
these sketches, we wish them to contrast 
their situation with that of the poor 
African, and remember Him who hath 
made them to differ. The hardships, 
dangers and miseries on the one hand, 
compared with the plenty, security and 
enjoyments on the other, should inspire 
the reader with gratitude to that God, 
who is the giver of every good gift. 
Let the missionary of the cross also be 
affectionately remembered, who forsakes 
the comforts of home and friends, and at 
the hazard of life goes to teach the far 



16 PREFACE. 

distant heathen. The least we can do, 
while enjoying our own happy firesides, 
is to encourage him in his labours, and 
sustain him by our prayers. 

THE EDITOR. 



INTEODUCTION. 



The continent of Africa, though probably 
the most ancient field of geographical enter- 
prise, still IS, and there is reason to believe 
that It will long continue to be, the least ex- 
plored portion of our earth. Though once 
the nursery of science and literature, the em- 
porium of commerce, and the seat of an em- 
pire which contended with Rome for the 
sovereignty of the world,— the cradle of the 
ancient church, and the asylum of the infant 
Saviour, yet Africa still presents a compara- 
tive blank on the map, as well as in the his- 
tory of the world. Though, according to 
Herodotus, it was circumnavigated by the 
PhcBmcians long before the Christian era, and 
its coast was the first object of maritime dis- 
covery after the compass had inspired seamen 
with confidence to leave shores and land- 
marks, and stand forth on the boundless deep; 
yet to this day its interior regions continue a 
mystery to the white man, a land of darkness 
and of terror to the most fearless and enterpri- 
sing traveller. Although in no country has 
there been such a sacrifice of men to the en- 

2 



18 INTRODUCTION. 

terprise of discovery — of men the most intel- 
ligent and undaunted, of men impelled not 
by gross cupidity, but by refined philan- 
thropy; — yet, notwithstanding such suffering 
and waste of human life, we are only ac- 
quainted with the fringes of that immense 
continent, and a few lineaments at no great 
distance from its shores. 

The inhabitants of South Africa are sepa- 
rated into three great divisions, Hottentots, 
Corannas, and lesser and greater Namaquas. 
From time immemorial these have been the 
boundaries of their habitations, while the 
desert wastes and barren mountain ravines, 
which intervened, became the refuge and 
domains of the Bushmen, who are emphati- 
cally the children of the desert. 

All these possess nearly the same physical 
characteristics, the same manners and cus- 
toms. I have had in my presence genuine 
Hottentots, Corannas and Namaquas, who 
had met from their respective and distant 
tribes, for the first time, and they conversed 
with scarcely any difficulty. All use the 
same weapons, the quiver, bow, and poison- 
ed arrows, of which the tribes beyond are 
ignorant, except such as border on them, like 
the Batlapis, who say they adopted that new 
mode of warfare in order to compete with 
them and the Bushmen, from both of whom 
they obtained these weapons, which they 
have not yet learned to manufacture. 

The Bushmen are the most remarkable 
portion of the Hottentot nation. They are 



INTRODUCTION. 19 

to be found scattered, though thinly, among 
all the Bechuana tribes of the interior with 
which we are acquainted, even as far as the 
Mampoor lake, about eight hundred miles 
north of Lattakoo. The Marosa, or Baroa 
Bushmen, are found of the same description as 
those just beyond the boundaries of the colo- 
ny; and from the oldest traditions we can find 
among the Corannas and Namaquas, who are 
the unmixed Hottentots, as also from the Be- 
chuanas, it may be demonstrated, that they 
existed a wandering people, without homes, or 
cattle, or even nationality of character. That 
they descended from Hottentots, requires little 
argument to prove. Connected with each of 
the towns among that people, there are great 
numbers of what are called " Balala,'' poor 
ones, who stand in the same relation to the 
Bechuanas in which the Bushmen formerly 
stood to the Hottentots, and whose origin 
doubtless was of the same nature. These 
Balala were once inhabitants of the towns, 
and have been permitted or appointed to live 
in country places for the purpose of procu- 
ring skins of wild animals, wild honey, and 
roots, for their respective chiefs. 

Though in general they are able to state 
to what chief or tribe, they belong, yet, from 
want of intercourse, and from desolating 
wars, which are only waged where there is 
a prospect of plunder, great numbers of them 
become, in their isolated position, independ- 
ent. They are never permitted to keep cat- 
tle, and are exposed to the caprice, cupidity 



20 INTRODUCTION. 

and tyranny of the town lords, whenever 
they happen to come in their way. They 
live a hungry life, heing dependent on the 
chase, wild roots, berries, locusts, and indeed 
any thing eatable that comes within their 
reach ; and when they have a more than 
usual supply, they will bury it in the earth, 
from their superiors, who are in the habit of 
taking what they please. Resistance on their 
part would be instantly avenged with the 
deadly javelin. When hunting parties go 
out to kill game, the Balala, men and wo- 
men, are employed to carry grievous bur- 
dens of flesh to the rendezvous of the hun- 
ters ; in return for which they receive the 
offals of the meat, and are made drudges so 
long as the party remains. They are never 
permitted to wear the furs of foxes and other 
animals they obtain. The flesh they may 
eat; but the skins are conveyed to the towns, 
for which they obtain a small piece of to- 
bacco, or an old spear or knife. Indeed, all 
the valuable skins of the larger animals, 
which they sometimes procure by hunting 
and pitfalls, as well as the better portions of 
the meat, they have to yield to their nominal 
masters, except when they succeed in secre- 
ting the whole for their own use. From the 
famishing life to which they are exposed, 
their external appearance and stature are 
precisely to the Bechuanas what the Bush- 
men are to the Hottentots. 

Their servile state, their scanty clothing, 
their exposure to the inclemency of the 



INTRODUCTION. 21 

weather, and their extreme poverty, have, 
as may be easily conceived, a deteriorating 
influence on their character and condition. 
They are generally less in stature, and though 
not deficient in intellect, the life they lead 
gives a melancholy cast to their features, and 
from constant intercourse with beasts of prey 
and serpents in their path, as well as expo- 
sure to harsh treatment, they appear shy, and 
have a wild and frequently quick suspicious 
look. Nor can this be wondered at, when 
it is remembered that they associate with 
savage beasts, from the lion that roams abroad 
by night and day, to the deadly serpent which 
infests their path, keeping them always on 
the alert during their perambulations. All 
this and much more which might be said of 
the Balala, may also with the strictest pro- 
priety be affirmed of the Bushmen. Any one 
familiarly acquainted with the interior, can 
have no doubt as to the origin and the cor- 
rectness of the description given of the " Bec- 
huana Bushmen," as Mr. Campbell calls 
them, and of whom he says, " they are a 
people greatly despised by all the surround- 
ing tribes.'^ Their numbers have also been 
increased by fugitives from other towns and 
villages, which have been reduced by devas- 
tating wars from peace and plenty, to the 
most abject poverty, and the inhabitants 
forced to flee to the desert for sustenance, 
hardly disputed with the beasts of prey. From 
this class of people, the Tamahas, or Red 
people, as the etymology of the word imports, 



22 INTRODUCTION. 

who are by the Griquas called Red Kafirs, 
arose. They formed a considerable body in 
the days of Molehabangue the father of Mo- 
thibi, the present chief of the Batlapis, who, 
in his commandoes for the capture of cattle, 
was wont to take them with him. Taught 
this mode of warfare, and being of an intre- 
pid character, they sallied forth and took 
cattle for themselves, which Molehabangue's 
generous disposition allowed them to keep, 
and they became an independent tribe, con- 
tinuing the faithful allies of the Batlapis. 

That such were the Bushmen formerly, 
there can be no doubt ; and it is equally cer- 
tain their numbers were increased by parties 
of Hottentots, robbed, and compelled to aban- 
don for ever the land of their ancestors; and 
who naturally sought to satisfy their wants 
by a predatory warfare, and thus taught the 
Bushmen to become the pirates of the desert.. 
Hence arose that kind of policy, once sanc- 
tioned by the Cape colonial government, of 
extermination, on which it is impossible to 
reflect without horror. It appears from the 
earliest records on the subject, and especially 
from the journals of those engaged in the 
work, that the Bushmen were once very nu- 
merous. I have traversed those regions in 
which, according to the testimony of the 
farmers, thousands once dwelt, drinking at 
their own fountains, and killing their own 
game ; but now, alas, scarcely a family is to 
be seen ! It is impossible to look over these 
now uninhabited plains and mountain-glens 



INTRODUCTION. 23 

without feeling the deepest melancholy, while 
the winds moaning in the vale seem to echo 
back the sound, " Where are they?" In this 
more enlightened age, the farmers cannot 
refer to the melancholy history of that unfor- 
tunate race without feelings of regret, while 
it is but justice to add, that many of the far- 
mers made strenuous efforts, and collected 
thousands of cattle and sheep, which they 
presented to the neighbouring Bushmen, hop- 
ing to induce them to settle, and live by breed- 
ing cattle; but these efforts always failed. It 
was too late ; past sufferings, and past offences 
on both sides, had produced a spirit of hatred 
so universal, that it was of no avail to pacify 
one party, while thousands were thirsting for 
revenge and plunder. Their numbers are 
now comparatively few, even among the 
tribes far beyond the present limits of the 
colony, from the same mutual strife. 

The Kafirs, the next African tribe to 
which I shall briefly refer, live beyond the 
Fish River, on the eastern boundary of the 
colony. At an earlier period they possessed 
much of that part of Albany now inhabited 
by EngUsh farmers and Hottentots, though it 
is presumed, on very good grounds, that the 
Hottentot country formerly extended a con- 
siderable distance into that of the Kafirs. 
The Kafirs form one tribe of the Great Bec- 
huana family^ and probably emigrated from 
the direction of Delagoa Bay, till they came 
in contact with the Hottentots along the coast. 
Their origin must be traced to the same 



24 INTRODUCTION. 

source as that of the numerous tribes of the 
Bechuanas, from the affinity of languages 
spoken throughout the eastern part of the 
continent of Africa. Their national character 
is bold and warlike, and their maintaining 
their independence to the present day, after 
all their conflicts with the colony, and espe- 
cially in the late war, when no less a sum 
than two hundred and forty-one thousand 
eight hundred and eighty-four pounds, was 
expended in the destructive, but fruitless con- 
flict, in order to drive them from the moun- 
tain-passes, and the impenetrable jungles, 
a country over which their ancestors had 
swayed the sceptre for ages, is a decisive 
evidence of their martial spirit. Their coun- 
try is bounded by the ocean on the south, 
and a range of mountains on the north, and 
beyond them lie the Amapondo and Zoolu 
tribes. 

North of Kafir-land, between the Winter- 
berg mountains and the higher branches of 
the Yellow River, lies the country inhabited 
by the Basutos, a tribe of Bechuanas. Since 
the days of Chaka, the tyrant of the Zoolus, 
who oppressed them from the east, while 
the Bergenaars on the west were exercising 
dreadful barbarities, and reduced most of the 
tribes to extreme poverty; they have risen 
again in a fertile country, to comparative 
affluence. 

Beyond the Basutos, to the north of the 
Orange River, lie the other Bechuana tribes, 
whose numbers and. extent we have not yet 
been able to learn. 



SCENES AND ADVENTURES 

IN 

AFRICA. 



THE LION AND GIRAFFE. 

On our route homeward we halted at a 
spot where a novel scene once occurred, and 
which was described by an individual who 
witnessed it when a boy. Near a very small 
fountain, which was shown to me, stood a 
camel thorn-tree, {Jlcacia Giraffe.) It was 
a stiff tree, about twelve feet high, with a 
flat, bushy top. Many years ago, the relater, 
then a boy, was returning to his village, and 
having turned aside to the fountain for a 
drink, lay down on the bank, and fell asleep. 
Being awoke by the piercing rays of the sun, 
he saw, through the bush behind which he 
lay, a giraffe browsing at ease on the tender 
shoots of the tree, and, to his horror, a lion, 
creeping like a cat, only a dozen yards from 
him, preparing to pounce on his prey. The 
lion eyed the giraffe for a few moments, his 
body gave a shake, and he bounded into the 



26 THE LION AND GIRAFFE. 

air, to seize the head of the animal, which 
instantly turned his stately neck, and the 
lion, missing his grasp, fell on his back in the 
centre of the mass of thorns, like spikes, and 
the giraffe bomided over the plain. The boy 
instantly followed the example, expecting, as 
a matter of course, that the enraged lion 
would soon find his way to the earth. Some 
time afterwards, the people of the village, 
who seldom visited that spot, saw the eagles 
hovering in the air; and as it is almost 
always a certain sign that the lion has killed 
game, or some animal is lying dead, they 
went to the place, and sought in vain till, 
coming under the lee of the tree, their olfac- 
tory nerves directed them to where the lion 
lay dead in his thorny bed. I still found 
some of his bones under the tree, and hair 
on its branches, to convince me of what I 
scarcely could have credited. 

The lion will sometimes manage to mount 
the back of a giraffe, and, fixing his sharp 
claws into each shoulder, gnaw away till he 
reaches the vertebrae of the neck, when both 
fall; and ofttimes the lion is lamed for his 
trouble. If the giraffe happens to be very 
strong, he succeeds in bringing his rider to 
the ground. Among those that we shot on 
our journey, the healed wounds of the lion's 
claws on the shoulder, and marks of his teeth 
on the back of the neck, gave us ocular de- 
monstration that two of them had carried the 
monarch of the forest on their backs, and yet 
come off triumphant. 



27 



THE DESERTED MOTHER. 

On reaching the spot, we beheld an object 
of heart-rending distress. It was a venera- 
ble looking old woman, a living skeleton, 
sitting with her head leaning on her knees. 
She appeared terrified at our presence, and 
especially at me. She tried to rise, but, 
trembling with weakness, sunk again to the 
earth. I addressed her by the name which 
sounds sweet in every cUme, and charms 
even the savage ear: "My mother, fear not ; 
we are friends, and wiU do you no harm." 
I put several questions to her, but she ap- 
peared either speechless, or afraid to open 
her lips. I again repeated, " Pray, mother, 
who are you, and how do you come to be in 
this situation ?" to which she replied, " I 
am a woman ; I have been here four days ; 
my children have left me here to die." 
"Your children!" I interrupted. "Yes," 
raising her hand to her shriveUed bosom, 
"my own children, three sons and two 
daughters." They are gone," pointing with 
her finger, " to yonder blue mountain, and 
have left me to die." " And pray why did 
they leave you?" I inquired. Spreading 
out her hands, " I am old, you see, and I am 
no longer able to serve them; when they kill 
game, I am too feeble to help in carrying 
home the flesh; I am not able to gather 
wood to make fire ; and I cannot carry their 
children on my back as I used to do." This 



28 THE DESERTED MOTHER. 

last sentence was more than I could bear ; 
and though my tongue was cleaving to the 
roof of my mouth for want of water, this 
reply opened a fountain of tears. I re- 
marked that I was surprised that she had 
escaped the lions, which seemed to abound, 
and to have approached very near the spot 
where she was. She took hold of the skin 
of her left arm with her fingers, and, raising 
it up as one would do a loose linen, she ad- 
ded, "I hear the lions; but there is nothing 
on me that they would eat ; I have no flesh 
on me for them to scent." At this moment 
the wagon drew near, which greatly alarmed 
her, for she supposed that it was an animal. 
Assuring her that it would do her no harm, 
I said that, as I could not stay, I would put 
her into the wagon and take her with me. 
At this remark she became convulsed with 
terror. Others addressed her, but all to no 
effect. She replied, that if we took her, and 
left her at another village, they would only 
do the same thing again. " It is our custom ; 
I am nearly dead ; I do not want to die 
again.'' The sun was now piercingly hot ; 
the oxen were raging in the yoke, and we 
ourselves nearly delirious. Finding it im- 
possible to influence the woman to move, 
without running the risk of her dying con- 
vulsed in our hands, we collected a quantity 
of fuel, gave her a good supply of dry meat, 
some tobacco, and a knife, with some other 
articles ; telling her we should return in two 
days, and stop the night, when she would be 



THE DESERTED MOTHER. 29 

able to go with us; only she must keep up a 
good fire at night, as the Hons would smell 
the dried flesh, if they did not scent her. We 
then pursued our course ; and after a long 
ride, passing a rocky ridge of hills, we came 
to a stagnant pool, into which men and oxen 
rushed precipitately, though the water was 
almost too muddy to go down our throats. 

On our return to the spot, according to 
promise, we found the old woman and every 
thing gone, but, on examination, discovered 
the footmarks of two men, from the hills re- 
ferred to, who appeared to have taken her 
away. Several months afterwards I learned, 
from an individual who visited the station, 
that the sons, seeing from a distance the wa- 
gon halt at the spot, where they had so un- 
naturally left their mother to perish, came to 
see, supposing the travellers had been view- 
ing the mangled remains of their mother. 
Finding her alive, and supplied with food, 
and on her telling the story of the strangers' 
kindness, they were alarmed, and dreading 
the vengeance of the great chief, whom they 
supposed me to be, took her home, and were 
providing for her with more than usual care. 
I have often reasoned with the natives on 
this cruel practice ; in reply to which they 
would only laugh. It may be imagined that 
people might devote their friends, and nobles 
their first born, like the Carthaginians, to ap- 
pease some off'ended deity; and that mothers, 
too, should smile on the infants their own 
hands had murdered, from similar motives ; 



30 TRAITS IN THE LION. 

but it appears an awful exhibition of human 
depravity, when children compel their pa- 
rents to perish for want, or to be devoured 
by beasts of prey in a desert, from no other 
motive than sheer laziness, or to get quit of 
those on whose breasts they hung in helpless 
infancy, whose lips first directed their vocal 
powers, whose hand led them through many 
a weary waste, and who often suffered the 
most pinching want, that the babes whom 
nature taught them to love might be sup- 
plied. I have more than once handed food 
to a hungry mother, who appeared to have 
fasted for a month, when she would just 
taste it, and give it to her child, when, per- 
haps, that very child, instead of returning 
grateful services to the infancy of old age, 
leaves that mother to perish from hunger. 



SINGULAR TRAITS IN THE LION. 

Much has been written about African 
lions, but the half has not been told. The 
following trait in their character may not be 
intrusive, or partaking of the marvellous, 
with which the tales of some travellers are 
said to abound. I give it as received from 
men of God, and men who had been expe- 
rienced Nimrods too. The old lion, when in 
company with his children, as the natives 
call them, though they are nearly as big as 
himself, or when numbers together happen 



TRAITS IN THE LION. 31 

to come upon game, the oldest or ' ablest 
creeps to the object, while the others crouch 
on the grass ; if he be successful, which he 
generally is, he retires from his victim, and 
lies down to breathe and rest for perhaps a 
quarter of an hour; in the meantime the 
others draw around and lie down at a re- 
spectful distance. When the chief one has 
got his rest, he commences at the abdomen 
and breast, and after making havoc with 
the titbits of the carcase, he will take a se- 
cond rest, none of the others presuming to 
move. Having made a second gorge, he re- 
tires ; the others, watching his motions, rush 
on the remainder, and it is soon devoured. 
At other times, if a young lion seizes the 
prey, and an old one happens to come up, 
the younger retires till the elder has dined. 
This was what Africaner called better man- 
ners than those of the Namaquas. 

Passing along a vale, we came to a spot 
where the lion appeared to have been exer- 
cising himself in the way of leaping. As 
the natives are very expert in tracing the 
manoeuvres of animals by their footmarks, it 
was soon discovered that a large lion had 
crept towards a short black stump, very like 
the human form ; when within about a dozen 
yards, it bounded on its supposed prey, when, 
to his mortification, he fell a foot or two short 
of it. According to the testimony of a native 
who had been watching his motions, and who 
joined us soon after, the lion lay for some time 
steadfastly eyeing its supposed meal. It then 



32 TRAITS IN THE LION. 

arose, smelt the object, and returned to the 
spot from whence he commenced his first 
leap, and leaped four several times, till at 
last he placed his paw on the imagined prize. 
On another occasion, when Africaner and an 
attendant were passing near the end of a hill, 
from which jutted out a smooth rock of ten 
or twelve feet high, he observed a number of 
zebras pressing round it, obliged to keep the 
path, beyond which it was precipitous. A 
lion was seen creeping up towards the path, 
to intercept the large stallion, which is always 
in the rear to defend or warn the troop. The 
lion missed his mark, and while the zebra 
rushed round the point, the lion knew well 
if he could mount the rock at one leap, the 
next would be on the zebra's back, it being 
obliged to turn towards the hill. He fell 
short, with only his head over the stone, 
looking at the galloping zebra switching his 
tail in the air. He then tried a second and 
a third leap, till he succeeded. In the mean 
time two more lions came up, and seemed to 
talk and roar away about something, while 
the old lion led them round the rock and 
round it again ; then he made another grand 
leap, to show them what he and they must 
do next time. Africaner added, with the 
most perfect gravity, " They evidently talked 
to each other, but though loud enough, I 
could not understand a word they said, and 
fearing lest we should be the next objects of 
their skill, we crept away and left them in 
council." 



33 



THE FRIGHT. 

The foHowing fact wiH show the fearful 
dangers to which soUtary traveHers are 
sometimes exposed. A man belonging to 
Mr. Schmelen's congregation, at Bethany, 
returning homewards from a visit to his 
friends, took a circuitous course in order to 
pass a smaH fountain, or rather pool, where 
he hoped to kill an antelope to carry home 
to his family. The sun had risen to some 
height by the time he reached the spot, and 
seeing no game, he laid his gun down on a 
shelving low rock, the back part of which 
was covered over with a species of dwarf 
thorn-bushes. He went to the water, took a 
hearty drink, and returned to the rock, 
smoked his pipe, and being a little tired, fell 
asleep. In a short time the heat reflected 
from the rock awoke him, and opening his 
eyes, he saw a large lion crouching before 
him, with its eyes glaring in his face, and 
within little more than a yard of his feet. He 
sat motionless for some minutes, till he had 
recovered his presence of mind, then eyeing 
his gun, moved his hand slowly towards it; 
the lion seeing him, raised its head, and gave 
a tremendous roar ; he made another and 
another attempt, but the gun being far be- 
yond his reach, he gave it up, as the lion 
seemed well aware of his object, and was 
enraged whenever he attempted to move his 

3 



34 THE FRIGHT. 

hand. His situation now became painful in 
the extreme ; the rock on which he sat be- 
came so hot that he could scarcely bear his 
naked feet to touch it, and kept moving 
them, alternately placing one above the 
other. The day passed, and the night also, 
but the lion never moved from the spot ; the 
sun rose again, and its intense heat soon ren- 
dered his feet past feeling. At noon the lion 
rose and walked to the water, only a few 
yards distant, looking behind as it went, lest 
the man should move, and seeing him stretch 
out his hand to take his gun, turned in a 
rage, and was on the point of springing upon 
him. The animal went to the water, drank, 
and returning, lay down again at the edge of 
the rock. Another night passed ; the man, in 
describing it, said, he knew not whether he 
slept, but if he did, it must have been with 
his eyes open, for he always saw the lion at 
his feet. Next day, in the forenoon, the 
animal went again to the water, and while 
there, he listened to some noise apparently 
from an opposite quarter, and disappeared in 
the bushes. The man now made another 
effort, and seized his gun; but on attempting 
to rise, he fell, his ankles being without 
power. With his gun in his hand, he crept 
towards the water, and drank, but looking at 
his feet, he saw, as he expressed it, his " toes 
roasted,^ ^ and the skin torn off with the 
grass. There he sat a few moments, expect- 
ing the lion's return, when he was resolved 
to send the contents of the gun through its 



THIRST IN THE DESERT. 35 

head ; but as it did not appear, tying his gun 
to his back, the poor man made the best of 
his way on his hands and linees, to the near- 
est path, hoping some soUtary individual 
might pass. He could go no further, when, 
providentially, a person came up, who took 
him to a place of safety, from whence he ob- 
tained help, though he lost his toes, and was 
a cripple for life. 



THIRST IN THE DESERT. 

Being disappointed in the object of our 
journey, we endeavoured to reach home by 
a shorter route further to the east on the 
borders of the southern Zahara desert, Avhich 
lies between Namaqua-land and the country 
of the Bechuanas. We had nearly paid 
dear for our haste, for we found ourselves in 
a plain of deep sand, and were on the point 
of abandoning the wagon. Each went in 
search of water, but it was in vain, we found 
only water melons, and those as bitter as 
gall. I shall never forget the ghastly looks 
of our party — nothing could provoke a smile. 
Some had started off in the direction of a 
river called 'Kam Toaap, which signifies 
" the water is done," where they happily 
found some, and (after drinking largely 
themselves) filled their calabashes and re- 
turned; but before reaching the wagon, their 
thirst again became excessive, and by the 



36 THE NARROW ESCAPE. 

next morning they had nearly finished all 
they had reserved for us. On my tasting 
the water, and it was indeed but a taste, for 
I wished that others should wet their lips, 
the rage for water seemed to increase, and 
we hastened towards the river. When we 
reached the top of the deep bed of the river, 
a scene presented itself which, though twenty- 
three years have elapsed, is as fresh to my 
mind as though it occurred but yesterday. 
Two of the men who had preceded us, im- 
mediately seized the thong of the two lead- 
ing oxen, to prevent them from precipitating 
themselves with the wagons down the rug- 
ged steep, after the example of wiser heads; 
for all the people, without exception, rushed 
down the bank, some kept their feet, others 
rolled, and some tumbled headlong into the 
muddy pool, in which they seemed fain to 
lie, clothes and all. It was well that the 
water was warmed by the sun's scorching 
rays, for Africaner, as well as others, record- 
ed several instances of thirsty travellers drink- 
ing largely in their heated state, and instantly 
expiring with their faces in the water. 



THE NARROW ESCAPE. 

At one of these places I had slept on the 
ground near the door of the hut in which the 
principal man and his wife reposed. I re- 
marked in the morning, that it appeared that 



THE NARROW ESCAPE. 37 

some of the cattle had broken loose during 
the night, as I heard something moving 
about on the outside of the thorn fence, un- 
der which I lay. " Oh," he replied, " I was 
looking at the spoor this morning, it was the 
lion;" adding, that a few nights before it 
sprang over on the very spot on which I had 
been lying, and seized a goat, with which it 
bounded off through another part of the fold. 
" Look," said he, " there is a part of some of 
the mats we tore from the house, and burned 
to frighten him away." On asking him how 
he could think of appointing me to sleep in 
that very spot; "Oh," he rejoined, "the 
lion would not have the audacity to jump 
over on you." This remark produced a 
laugh in me, in which he and his wife joined 
most heartily; and reminded me of a cir- 
cumstance in his own history, with which I 
was well acquainted; for he had been in the 
jaws of a lion. One night, he, and about a 
dozen hunters, were fast asleep, with a circle 
of bushes placed around their fire. When 
the blaze was extinguished, a lion sprang 
into the midst of the sleeping party, seized 
my host by the shoulder, and with his caross, 
dragged him off to some distance. The 
others, aroused by the scuffle, snatched up 
their guns, and, not knowing one of their 
number had been carried off, shot in the 
direction whence the noise proceeded. One 
ball happened to Avound the lion, and, in 
trying to roar, it let the man drop from its 
grasp, who instantly ran off, leaving his 



38 BEASTS OF PREY. 

mantle, and bolting among his companions, 
crying out, " Do not shoot me ;" for they 
supposed for a moment that he was the lion. 
He showed me the ugly marks of the lion^s 
teeth in his shoulder. 



BEASTS OF PREY. 

Flocks of Guinea fowl would occasionally 
add to the varied scene, with their shrill cry, 
and whirling flight, from the open plain to 
the umbrage of the sloping bank, where they 
pass the night amidst the branches of the tall 
acacias. But here too the curse reigns ; for 
the kites and hawks might be seen hovering 
in the air, watching the motions of the crea- 
tures beneath, and ready to dart down, with 
the fleetness of an arrow, on a duckling stray- 
ing from its parent, or on a bird or a hare 
moving too far from the shelter of a bush or 
tree. The fox also might be seen, stealing 
slowly along from the desert waste, to slake 
his thirst in the refreshing stream, and seek 
for some unfortunate brood which might fall 
within his reach ; and the cobra and green 
serpent, ascending the trees, to suck the eggs, 
or to devour the young birds; while the 
feathered tribe, uniting against the common 
enemy, gather around, and rend the air with 
their screams. The African tiger, too, comes 
in for a share of the feathered spoil. With 
his sharp claws he ascends the trees, in the 



BEASTS OF PREY. 39 

dead of night, and seizes the Guinea fowls 
on their aerial roost. The hyena, also, here 
seeks his spoil, and gorges some strayed kid, 
or pursues the troop for the new-fallen ante- 
lope or foal ; and, to fill up the picture, the 
lion may be heard in the distance, roaring for 
his prey; while man, 

" The great enemy to man," 

is no less so to fish or fowl, or spotted deer. 
Wherever he wanders he seeks to regale his 
varied appetite ; and more than this, he, as 
the enemy of enemies, fears not to attack the 
ponderous elephant, face the lion's glare, and 
for his amusement lay prostrate in the dust 
the innocent. 

Reclining on a rock one day, waiting till 
my shirt, which I had washed, was dry, I 
noticed a crow rise from the earth, carrying 
something dangling in its talons. On direct- 
ing my companions to the sight, they said, 
" it is only a crow with a tortoise ; you will 
see it fall presently;" and down it fell. The 
crow descended, and up went the tortoise 
again to a still greater height, from which it 
dropped, and the crow instantly followed. I 
hastened with one of the men to the spot, and 
scared away the crow from the mangled tor- 
toise, on which it was enjoying a feast. On 
looking around the flat rock, there were many 
wrecks of former years ; and on my remark- 
ing I did not think that the crow was so cun- 
ning, my companion rephed, " The kites do 
the same thing;" which I have since fre- 
quently observed. 



40 



THE POISONED POOL. 

On one occasion I was remarkably pre- 
served, when all expected that my race was 
run. We had reached the river early in the 
afternoon, after a dreadfully scorching ride 
across a plain. Three of my companions, 
who were in advance, rode forward to a 
Bushman village, on an ascent some hundred 
yards from the river. I went, because my 
horse would go, towards a little pool on a 
dry branch, from which the flood or torrent 
had receded to the larger course. Dismount- 
ing, I pushed through a narrow opening in 
the bushes, and lying down took a hearty 
draught. Immediately on rising I felt an 
unusual taste in my mouth, and looking at- 
tentively at the water, and the temporary 
fence around it, it flashed across my mind 
that the water was poisoned for the purpose 
of killing game. I came out, and meeting 
one of our number, who had been a little 
in the rear, just entering, told him my sus- 
picion. 

At that moment a Bushman from the vil- 
lage came running breathless, and apparent- 
ly terrified, took me by the hand, as if to 
prevent my going to the water, talking with 
great excitement, though neither I nor my 
companions could understand him ; but when 
I made signs that I had drunk, he was speech- 
less for a minute or two, and then ran ofl"to the 
village. I followed; and on again dismount- 



HEAT AND THIRST. 41 

ing, as I was beginning to think for the last 
time, the poor Bushmen and women looked 
on me with eyes which bespoke heartfelt 
compassion. My companions expected me 
to fall down every moment ; not one spoke. 
Observing the downcast looks of the poor 
Bushmen, I smiled, and this seemed to ope- 
rate on them like an electric shock, for all 
began to babble and sing ; the women strik- 
ing their elbows against their naked sides, 
expressive of their joy. However, I began 
to feel a violent turmoil within, and a fulness 
of the system, as if the arteries would burst, 
while the pulsation was exceedingly quick, 
being accompanied with a slight giddiness in 
the head. We made the natives understand 
that I wanted the fruit of the solanum, which 
grows in those quarters nearly the size and 
shape of an egg, and which acts as an emetic. 
They ran in all directions, but sought in vain. 
By this time I was covered with a profuse 
perspiration, and drank largely of pure water. 
The strange and painful sensation which 
I had experienced gradually wore away, 
though it was not entirely removed for some 
days. 



HEAT AND THIRST. 

We continued our slow and silent march 
for hours. The tongue cleaving to the roof 
of the mouth from thirst, made conversation 
extremely difficult. At last we reached the 

4 



42 HEAT AND THIRST. 

long-wished for " waterfall," so named, be- 
cause when it rains, water sometimes falls^ 
though in small quantities ; but it was too 
late to ascend the hill. We allowed our poor 
worn-out horses to go where they pleased, 
and having kindled a small fire, and pro- 
duced a little saliva by smoking a pipe, we 
talked about our lost companions, who hap- 
pened for their comfort to have the morsel of 
meat, and who, as Jantye thought, would 
wander from the position in which we left 
them towards the river. We bowed the 
knee to Him who had mercifully preserved 
us, and laid our heads on our saddles. The 
last sound we heard to soothe us, was the 
distant roar of the lion, but we were too 
much exhausted to feel any thing like fear. 
Sleep came to our relief, and it seemed made 
up of scenes the most lovely, forming a glow- 
ing contrast to our real situation. I felt as if 
engaged during my short repose, in roving 
among ambrosial bowers of paradisaical de- 
light, hearing sounds of music, as if from an- 
gels' harps; it was the night wind falling on 
my ears from the neighbouring hill. I seemed 
to pass from stream to stream, in which I 
bathed and slaked my thirst at many a crys- 
tal fount, flowing from golden mountains 
enriched with living green. These Elysian 
pleasures continued till morning dawn, when 
we awoke, speechless with thirst, our eyes 
inflamed, and our whole frames burning like 
a coal. We were, however, somewhat less 
fatigued, but wanted water, and had re- 



HEAT AND THIRST. 43 

course to another pipe before we could arti- 
culate a word. 

My companion then directed me to a pro- 
jecting rock, near the top of the hill, where, 
if there was water at all, it would be found. 
I took up the gun to proceed in that direc- 
tion, while he went in search of the horses, 
which we feared might have been devoured 
by the lion. I ascended the rugged height to 
the spot where water once was, but found it 
as dry as the sandy plain beneath. I stood 
a few minutes, stretching my languid eye to 
see if there were any appearance of the 
horses, but saw nothing; turning to descend, 
I happened to cough, and was instantly sur- 
rounded by almost a hundred baboons, some 
of gigantic size. They grunted, grinned, and 
sprang from stone to stone, protruding their 
mouths, and drawing back the skin of their 
foreheads, threatening an instant attack. I 
kept parrying them with my gun, which was 
loaded ; but knew their character and dispo- 
sition too well to fire, for if I had wounded 
one of them, I should have been skinned in 
five minutes. The ascent was very laborious, 
but I would have given any thing to be at 
the bottom of the hill again. Some came so 
near as even to touch my hat while passing 
projecting rocks. It was some time before I 
reached the plain, when they appeared to 
hold a noisy council, either about what they 
had done, or intended doing. Levelling my 
piece at two that seemed the most fierce, as I 
was about to touch the trigger, the thought 



44 HEAT AND THIRST. 

occurred, I have escaped, let me be thankful ; 
therefore I left them uninjured, perhaps with 
the gratification of having given me a fright. 
Jantye soon appeared with the horses. 
My looks, more expressive than words, con- 
vincing him there was no water, we saddled 
the poor animals, which, though they had 
picked up a little grass, looked miserable be- 
yond description. We now directed our 
course towards Witte Water, where we could 
scarcely hope to arrive before afternoon, even 
if we reached it at all, for we were soon 
obliged to dismount, and drive our horses 
slowly and silently over the glowing plain, 
wJiere the delusive mirage tantalized our 
feelings with exhibitions of the loveliest pic- 
tures, of lakes and pools studded with lovely 
islets, and towering trees moving in the 
breeze on their banks. In some might be 
seen the bustle of a mercantile harbour, with 
jetties, coves, and moving rafts and oars ; in 
others, lakes so lovely, as if they had just 
come from the hand of the Divine artist, a 
transcript of Eden's sweetest views, but all 
the result of highly rarefied air, or the re- 
flected heat of the sun's rays on the sultry 
plain. Sometimes, when the horses and my 
companion were some hundred yards in ad- 
vance, they appeared as if lifted from the 
earth, or moving like dark living pillars in 
the air. Many a time did we seek old ant 
hills, excavated by the ant-eater, into which 
to thrust our heads, in order to have some- 
thing solid between our fevered brains and 



HEAT AND THIRST. 45 

the piercing rays of the sun. There was no 
shadow of a great rock; the shrubs sapless, 
barren, and bhghted, as if by some blast of 
fire. Nothing animate was to be seen or 
heard, except the shrill chirping of a beetle 
resembling the cricket, the noise of which 
seemed to increase with the intensity of the 
heat. Not a cloud had been seen since we 
left our homes. 

We felt an irresistible inclination to remain 
at any bush which could aiford the least 
shelter from the noonday^s sun, the crown of 
the head having the sensation as if covered 
with live coal, and the mind wandering. 
My companion became rather wild. Hav- 
ing been anxious to spare him all the toil 
possible, I had for a long time carried the 
gun ; he asked for it, apparently to relieve 
me, but his motions were such that I was 
glad to recover possession of it. 

My difficulties and anxieties were now 
becoming painful in the extreme, not know- 
ing any thing of the road, which was in some 
places hardly discernible, and in my faithful 
guide hope had died away. The horses 
moved at the slowest pace, and that only 
when driven, which effort was laborious in 
the extreme. Speech was gone, and every 
thing expressed by signs, except when we 
had recourse to a pipe, and for which we 
now began to lose our relish. After sitting 
a long while under a bush, oh ! what a rehef 
I felt when my guide pointed to a distant 
hill, near to which water lay. Courage re- 



46 HEAT AND THIRST. 

vived, but it was with pain and labour that 
we reached it late in the afternoon. Having 
still sufficient judgment not to go at once to 
drink, it was with great difficulty I prevented 
my companion doing that, which would 
almost instantly have proved fatal to him. 
Our horses went to the pool, and consumed 
nearly all the water, for it appeared that 
some wild horses had shortly before slaked 
their thirst at this spot, leaving for us but 
little, and that polluted. 

Becoming cooler after a little rest, we 
drank, and though moving with animalcules, 
muddy, and nauseous with filth, it was to us 
a reviving draught. We rested and drank, 
till the sun sinking in the west, compelled us 
to go forward, in order to reach Griqua 
Town that night. Though we had filled 
our stomachs with water, if such it might be 
called, for it was grossly impure, thirst soon 
returned with increased agony; and painful 
was the ride and walk, for they were alter- 
nate, until we reached at a late hour the 
abode of Mr. Anderson. 

Entering the door speechless, haggard, 
emaciated, and covered with perspiration and 
dust, I soon procured by signs, that universal 
language, for myself and my companion a 
draught of water. Mr. A., expecting such a 
visitor from the moon, as soon as from Na- 
maqua-land, was not a little surprised to 
find who it was. Kind-hearted Mrs. A. in- 
stantly prepared a cup of coffee and some 
food, which I had not tasted for three days; 



THE STORM. 47 

and I felt all the powers of soul revive, as if 
I had talked with angels — it was to me a 
" feast of reason and a flow of soul." 

Retiring to rest, the couch, though hard, 
appeared to me a downy bed; I begged Mr. 
A. just to place within my reach half a bucket 
of water ; this he kindly and prudently re- 
fused, but left me with a full tumbler of unu- 
sual size ; such, however, was my fevered 
condition, that no sooner was he gone than 
I drank the whole. After reviewing the 
past, and looking upward with adoring gra- 
titude, I fell asleep, and arose in the morning 
as fresh as if I had never seen a desert, nor 
felt its thirst. We remained here a few days, 
in the course of which our lost companions 
arrived, having, as we rightly supposed, wan- 
dered towards the river, and escaped the thirst 
which had nearly terminated our career in 
the desert. 



THE STORM. 

In the afternoon, when bidding farewell to 
the dear brethren, with whom I could have 
wished to pass a month, Mr. A. remarked 
that the weather to the westward looked like 
a storm ; but as these appearances often pass 
over without a drop of rain, we set oif, and 
trusting to the strength of our recruited 
horses, we hoped to pass through the desert 
to the Orange river without much suffering. 
Mrs. A. had provided us with some biscuit, 



48 ' THE STORM. 

which one of the men placed in a sack also 
containing tobacco. We intended to sleep at 
Witte Water that night, but long before we 
reached that place, we were overtaken by an 
awful storm of thunder. The peals were 
deafening, and our horses frequently started 
from each other at the vivid glare of the 
lightning. It poured torrents, so that by the 
time we reached the spot where we intended 
to halt we were drenched to the skin. We 
let our horses go, and sat down Jike half- 
drowned fowls, at a bush which could afford 
us no shelter either from wind or rain. After 
the vehemence of the storm had abated, we 
began to think what must be done, for, by 
the falling hail and piercing wind, we trem- 
bled as if we should die Avith cold. After 
much patient search, we found a very few 
substances capable of ignition, and struck a 
light in the only box where the tinder was 
dry, but in vain we looked for fuel to supply 
our fire. We threw most of our clothes off, 
for the suffering with them on was unbear- 
able, and leaving one to blow the fire, we 
sallied forth in quest of materials to burn. 
At some distance we succeeded in gathering 
a few small branches, when we found at 
least four hyenas looking on in a most daring 
manner, and resolved to attack us. Such as 
had both hands occupied, soon relieved one, 
and with stones scared them a little. But, 
alas ! the light of the little fire we had left 
had disappeared, and we knew not the di- 
rection from which we had eome» We 



THE STORM. 49 

shouted to the man who had remained with 
it, but no answer, save the ugly howl of the 
hyenas. Now we were completely bewil- 
dered, every one pointing in a different di- 
rection, as that in which we had come. A 
second storm pelted us most unmercifully, 
and the wind seemed to penetrate through 
and through our almost naked frames. After 
a long search, we found the little bush, the 
man asleep, and the fire out. We threw 
down our crow-nests which we had gathered 
for fuel, resolving to brave it out ; but the 
prospect was horrible, of shivering till the 
next day's sun should warm us. Each lay 
down in a lump, on a goat skin, which had 
served as a saddle cloth. Two of us tried to 
get down to dry earth, for though there had 
been a stream on the ground, it was scarcely 
six inches deep. Beyond our expectation, 
we fell asleep, and as I lay rather lower than 
some of my comrades, the rain and sand bu- 
ried nearly the half of my body. It would 
be vain attempting to describe my feelings 
on awaking at daybreak, stiff, cold and dizzy, 
my hair clotted with mud. We crawled off 
to the pool of rain water, and though very 
thick, we enjoyed a thorough ablution. Af- 
ter wringing the water out of our clothes, we 
put them on as they were, being obliged to 
proceed. Before starting, we resolved to 
have a delightful taste of our biscuit, but, 
alas ! when the contents of our bag were 
turned out, we found that the rain having 
saturated the tobacco and biscuit, the latter 



50 THE WILD DOG. 

was reduced to a dark brown paste. Smo- 
kers as we were, this dish was too unpalata- 
ble . for us, and a good draught of muddy- 
water had to supply the deficiency. 



THE WILD DOG.- 

As the sun arose towards the meridian, the 
heat became excessive ; and if we had been 
nearly frozen at night, we were almost 
scorched during the day; and before we 
reached water the following night, we would 
have given a crown for a bottle of that in 
which we had washed in the morning. Our 
return was little different from our outward 
journey, "in fastings oft." A kind Provi- 
dence watched over us, and in some cases 
remarkably interposed in our behalf, which 
the following incident will show. We had 
passed the night without food; and after a 
long day's ride, the sun was descending on 
us, with little prospect of meeting with any 
thing to assuage the pains of hunger, when, 
as we were descending from the high ground, 
weak and weary, we saw, at a great distance, 
on the opposite ridge, a line of dust approach- 
ing, with the fleetness of the ostrich. It proved 
to be a spring-buck, closely pursued by a wild 
dog,- which must have brought it many miles, 
for it was seized within two hundred yards 
of the spot where we stood, and instantly 
dispatched. We, of course, thankfully took 



THE SEA COW. 51 

possession of his prize, the right to which the 
wild dog seemed much incUned to dispute 
with us. I proposed to leave half of it for the 
pursuer. " No," said one of my men, " he is 
not so hungry as we are, or he would not run 
so fast." 



THE SEA COW. 

The night before reaching home we had 
rather a narrow escape from a sea-cow (hip- 
popotamus.) We were obliged to cross the 
river, which could only be effected by passing 
over two low islands, nearly covered with 
reeds and jungle. 

They were a great distance from each 
other, and it was now nearly dark. We had 
just reached the first, when a sea-cow came 
furiously up the stream, snorting so loud as 
to be echoed back from the dark overhaiig^ 
ing precipices. Younker Africaner shouted 
out to me to escape, and, springing from his 
horse, which appeared petrified, he seized a 
large stone, and hurled it at the monster of 
the deep, for our guns were both out of order. 
The enraged animal then made for the next 
ford, through which two of us were forcing 
our horses, up to the saddle in a rapid torrent. 
A moment's delay on our part would have 
been fatal to one or both of us. The other 
three men remained till the infuriated animal 
had got again into the rear, when they also 



52 THE ASSAULT AND MURDER. 

escaped to the second island, where expecting 
another encounter, we made the best of our 
way to the mainland, effectually drenched 
with perspiration and water. We soon after 
reached a village of our own people; and it 
wa^ with the liveliest gratitude to our heav- 
enly Father that we reviewed the mercies of 
the day. These animals, in their undisturbed 
lakes and pools, are generally timid, and will 
flee at the approach of man; but when they 
have been hunted and wounded, from year 
to year, they become very dangerous, as the 
following fact will prove. A native, with 
his boy, went to the river to hunt sea-cows. 
Seeing one at a short distance below the 
island, the man passed through a narrow 
stream, to get nearer the object of his pursuit. 
He fired, but missed; and the animal in- 
stantly made for the island; and the man, 
seeing his danger, ran to cross the bank of 
the river ; but, before reaching it, the sea- 
cow seized him, and literally severed his 
body in two with its monstrous jaws. 



THE ASSAULT AND MURDER. 

While Edwards and Kok were in that 
country, two additional labourers were sent 
out by the Dutch Missionary Society; but 
from the hopeless prospect of usefulness, 
under the existing state of things, they aban- 
doned that field of labour, and returned to 



THE ASSAULT AND MURDER. 53 

the Colony. The residence of Kok and Ed- 
wards among such a people, without being 
thoroughly identified with them, was neces- 
sarily attended with risk, and demanded no 
common share of personal courage. Travel- 
ling also was dangerous, from the Bushmen, 
who had kept up a constant predatory Avar- 
fare with the Bechuanas from time imme- 
morial, and upon whom they wreaked their 
vengeance whenever an occasion offered. 
Kok and his attendants took no part in these 
outrages, but this did not exempt them from 
the inveterate hostility of the Bushmen, — an 
hostility exercised against all who possessed 
herds or flocks, as the following heart-rending 
catastrophe will prove. Kok was accom- 
panied by two brothers, Griquas, of the name 
of Bergover, who afforded him not only 
society but assistance. When Kok visited 
Cape Town, these two remained behind, but 
for some reasons thought proper soon after 
to follow him with sixty head of cattle, and 
a quantity of elephant's teeth, which they 
had obtained by barter. On the third day 
after leaving the Kuruman, they were joined 
by a few Bushmen, who received from them 
the offals of game which had been killed. 
The oxen, however, they possessed, excited 
their cupidity, and tempted the Bushmen to 
lay plans for their seizure. The Bergover 
party consisted of two men able to bear 
arms, their mother, their wives, and fourteen 
children. The Griquas soon had reason to 
suspect the designs of their visitors, by little 



54 THE ASSAULT AND MURDER. 

provocations which their prudence had hith- 
erto overruled. One morning, when the 
two brothers were working at a Uttle dis- 
tance from each other, and while one was 
stooping, in the act of repairing the wagon 
pole, a Bushman thrust him through with his 
spear. His daughter, eight years of age, 
seeing her father fall, uttered a shriek, when 
she, too, was transfixed with a spear by 
another. The other Griqiia, hearing the 
alarm, and beholding his brother prostrate in 
his blood, rushed furiously on the eight 
Bushmen, who fled. He hurled a small 
hatchet, which he had in his hand, at the 
murderers, then seizing his gun, fired, and 
wounded one in the shoulder, but all escaped, 
leaving their bows and arrows behind them. 
Distracting beyond measure must have been 
the situation of the sufferers, with only one 
individual to defend them, for days, while 
passing through the country of those who 
were sure to renew the attack with increasing 
numbers. They removed from their frail 
wagon the ivory, which they concealed in 
the ground. They placed in the wagon the 
corpses of their slaughtered relatives, with a 
view to their being interred during the night, 
to prevent their being treated with that in- 
dignity which the Bushmen often offer to the 
bodies of the slain. The next morning they 
continued their flight, with hearts beating at 
the sight of every distant object which ap- 
peared like a human being; for Bushmen 
were descried on the heights, watching the 



THE ASSAULT AND MURDER. 55 

progress of the weeping and terrified band. 
Another night passed on the plain, a sleep- 
less night, except to the infants unconscious 
of their danger. Next day, passing a thicket 
of acacias, a shower of poisofted arrows fell 
around them, like hail-stones, some of which 
shghtly wounded several of the children. 
Bergover fired his gun, and they fled, but the 
attack was resumed. Thus he continued, 
with the assistance of his boy, urging on his 
oxen ; and though several of them fell under 
the poisoned arrows, they were quickly re- 
placed by others. In the act of unyoking 
them, he and his son were both wounded, 
himself severely; nevertheless, the father 
continued to defend his children and herds. 
The gloomy night again set in, with the 
prospect of all being butchered. The morn- 
ing dawned on them, and witnessed the 
closing scene of a catastrophe, at which even 
those inured to savage life must shudder. 
Greater numbers of Bushmen appeared, as- 
sailing the wagon on all sides; and the mo- 
ment the father fired his gun, all directed 
their arrows at the only individual capable 
of resistance, and to whom the agonized 
mothers and children could look for help. 
They looked in vain; severely wounded, he 
staggered to the wagon, while the Bushmen 
seized the oxen, and drove them oif, with 
the shout of victory. The woimds were 
fatal, recollection failed, the words died away 
on the weeping widow's ear, and in the 
course of an hour Bergover ceased to breathe. 



56 THE ASSAULT AND MURDER. 

Here they were, far from human aid ; three 
women and thirteen helpless children, their 
only friend and defender being a ghastly 
corpse. The axle-tree of their wagon was 
broken, and Bushmen were still hovering 
around, eager to dispatch their victims, and 
seize the remaining draught-oxen which still 
stood in the yoke. Three days and nights of 
anguish had now passed, without either food 
or rest. This was a period of terror and 
despair; weeping mothers encompassed by 
wounded, distracted, and fatherless children, 
could only lift up their voices to God in 
prayer; and at that moment, deliverance the 
most unexpected was approaching. The 
melting scene which followed, cannot be bet- 
ter described than in the language of an eye- 
witness, Dr. Lichtenstein, whose description 
accords exactly with that which I received 
from the lips of one of the surviving widows. 
"The traveller having been joined by Kok, 
on his way to the Kuruman, and seeing the 
tilt of a wagon at a distance, writes, ' We 
hastened up to the wagon, and reached it 
before we were observed by any of the 
party; at the moment we came up, one of 
the women seeing us, uttered a loud and 
piercing shriek, and falling prostrate on the 
earth before Kok, embraced his knees in a 
tumult of agony. In an instant after, the 
children ran towards us, crying, sobbing, and 
lamenting, in the most piteous manner, so 
that it was some time before my worthy 
companion, down whose cheeks tears were 



STRATAGEM FOR TAKING GAME. 57 

Streaming, had power to ask the -anfortimate 
woman where her husband was. For a 
while, renewed sobs were the only answer 
he could obtain. We looked up, and saw, a 
few paces from us^ a boy about twelve years 
of age, making a grave with an old iron axe, 
and near him, lying on the ground, the body 
of his father, wrapped in a mat. ^The Bush- 
men have murdered him,^ exclaimed the 
unfortunate lad, and letting his axe drop, he 
broke out into the most bitter cries and 
lamentations.' " 



STRATAGEM FOR TAKING GAME. 

The plate exhibits a stratagem, by which 
the Bushman approaches to game, in the 
garb of the ostrich. The method is inge- 
nious, though extremely simple. A kind of 
flat double cushion is stuifed with straw, and 
formed something like a saddle. All, except 
the under part of this, is covered over with 
feathers, attached to small pegs and made so 
as to resemble the bird. The neck and head 
of an ostrich are stuffed, and a small rod in- 
troduced. The Bushman intending to attack 
game, whitens his legs with any substance he 
can procure. He places the feathered saddle 
on his shoulders, takes the bottom part Of the 
neck in his right hand, and his bow and poi- 
soned arrows in his left. Such as the writer 
has seen were the most perfect mimics of the 
5 



58 BURIAL OF THE DEAD. 

ostrich, and at a few hundred yards distant 
it is not possible for the human eye to detect 
the fraud. This human bird appears to pick 
away at the verdure, turning the head as if 
keeping a sharp lookout, shakes his feathers, 
now walks, and then trots, until he gets 
within bow-shot; and when the flock runs 
from one receiving an arrow, he runs too. 
The male ostriches will on some occasions 
give chase to the strange bird, when he tries 
to elude them, in a way to prevent their 
catching his scent; for when once they do, 
the spell is broken. Should one happen to 
get too near in pursuit, he has only to run to 
windward, or throw off his saddle, to avoid 
a stroke from a wing, which would lay him 
prostrate. 



BURIAL OF THE DEAD. 

The following is a brief sketch of the cere- 
mony of interment, and the custom which 
prevails among these tribes in reference to 
the dying. When they see any indications 
of approaching dissolution, in fainting fits or 
convulsive throes, they throw a net over the 
body, and hold it in a sitting posture, with 
the knees brought in contact with the chin, 
till life is gone. The grave, which is fre- 
quently made in the fence surrounding the 
cattle fold, or in the fold itself, if for a man, 
is about three feet in diameter and six feet 



BURIAL OF THE DEAD. 59 

deep. The body is not conveyed through 
the door of the fore-yard or court connected 
with each house, but an opening is made in 
the fence for that purpose. It is carried to 
the grave, having the head covered with a 
skin, and is placed in a sitting posture. 
Much time is spent in order to fix the corpse 
exactly facing the north; and though they 
have no compass, they manage, after some 
consultation, to place it very nearly in the 
required position. Portions of an ant-hill 
are placed about the feet, when the net 
which held the body is gradually with- 
drawn ; as the grave is filled up, the earth is 
handed in with bowls, while two men stand 
in the hole to tread it down round the body, 
great care being taken to pick out every 
thing like a root or pebble. When the earth 
reaches the height of the mouth, a small twig 
or branch of an acacia is thrown in, and on 
the top of the head a few roots of grass are 
placed ; and when the grave is nearly filled, 
another root of grass is fixed immediately 
above the head, part of which stands above 
ground. When finished, the men and wo- 
men stoop, and with their hands scrape the 
loose soil around on to the little mound. A 
large bowl of water, with an infusion of 
bulbs, is then brought, when the men and 
women wash their hands and the upper part 
of their feet, shouting "pula, pula," rain, 
rain. An old woman, probably a relation, 
will then bring his weapons, bows, arrows, 
war axe, and spears, also grain and garden 



60 WILD DOGS HUNTING. 

seeds of various kinds, and even the bone of 
an old pack-ox, with other thnigs, and ad- 
dress the grave, saying, "there are alJ your 
articles." These are then taken away, and 
bowls of water are poured on the grave, 
when all retire, the women wailing, "yo, 
yo, yo," with some doleful dirge, sorrowing 
without hope. These ceremonies vary in 
different localities, and according to the rank 
of the individual who is committed to the 
dust. It is remarkable that they should ad- 
dress the dead ; and I have eagerly embra- 
ced this season to convince them that if they 
did not believe in the immortality of the soul, 
it was evident from this, to them now un- 
meaning custom, that their ancestors once 
did. Some would admit this might possibly 
have been the case, but doubted whether 
they could have been so foolish. But with 
few exceptions among such a people, argu- 
ment soon closes, or is turned into ridicule, 
and the great difficulty presents itself of pro- 
ducing conviction where there is no re- 
flection. 



WILD DOGS HUNTING. 

During our stay at this place, a circumstance 
occurred which may throw some light on the 
habits of these people, and confirms the old 
adage, " that the one half of the world does 
not know how the other half lives." It was 
at noon-day when a fine large hartebeest 



WILD DOGS HUNTING. 61 

(kbama of the Bechuanas,) the swiftest of the 
antelope species, darted close past the wagon, 
and descended towards the extensive valley. 
Startled by so unusual an occurrence, one of 
the natives called out, " It is the wild dogs;" 
and presently the whole pack made their 
appearance, following their leader, which 
was pursuing the antelope. We seized our 
guns to attack them as beasts of prey. The 
poor people who were sitting around their 
flesh-pots started up and followed, begging 
of us most earnestly not to kill the wild dogs, 
for they were their providers. We of course 
laid down our guns again, and directed our 
attention to the khama, which was soon over- 
taken and seized by the hind leg. It turned 
round to defend itself, and then started off 
till again seized by the wild dog. As we had 
in a measure retarded the speed of the pack, 
about thirty in number, the single dog en- 
gaged baiting the khama looked round and 
gave a piteous howl for his companions to 
come to his assistance. When they overtook 
the poor animal they fell upon it with one 
accord, and instantly brought it to the ground. 
One of my men ran off in order to secure a 
piece of the skin of which he wanted to make 
shoes, but by the time he reached the spot, 
nothing remained but bones, and those well 
picked. These the poor people afterwards 
collected for the sake of the marrow. On 
further inquirj^, I found that these people are 
in the habit, when they see an antelope, or 
even an ostrich, pursued by the wild dogs, of 



62 WILD DOGS HUNTING. 

endeavouring to frighten them away, that 
they may come in for a share of the prey. 
One of the men, with much feeUng for him- 
self and companions, said, patting his hand 
on his stomach, " Oh, I am glad you did 
not shoot the dogs, for they often find us a 
meal.^^ 

At another place the poor people were 
very glad, on the same account, that we had 
not killed the lion, which had been trouble- 
some to us during the night. These children 
of the desert very promptly described the 
manner of the wild-dog chase, which I have 
since had opportunities of witnessing. When 
the dogs approach a troop of antelopes, they 
select one, no matter how it may mingle with 
others on the dusty plain ; the dog that starts 
never loses scent, or, if he does, it is soon 
discovered by the pack, which follow after, 
as they spread themselves the more readily 
to regain it. While the single dog who takes 
the lead has occasion to make angles in pur- 
suit of his prey, the others, who hear his cry 
or short howl, avoid a circuitous course, and 
by this means easily come up again, when a 
fresh dog resumes the chase, and the other 
turns into the pack. In this way they relieve 
each other till they have caught the animal, 
which they rarely fail to accomplish, though 
sometimes after a very long run. Should 
they in their course happen to pass other 
game much nearer than the one in pursuit, 
they take no notice of it. These dogs, of 
which there are two species, never attack 



THE HYENA. 63 

man, but are very destructive to sheep and 
goats, and even to cows, when they come 
in their way. 



THE HYENA. 

One night we heard a woman screaming 
in the town, and, on inquiry in the morning, 
found that a hyena had carried away her 
child, which had happened to wander a few 
yards from the door. On our expressing 
astonishment, we were informed that such 
occurrences were very common, and that 
after night-faU the hyenas were in the habit 
of strolling through all the lanes of the town, 
and carrying away whatever they could 
seize. As these animals were thus accus- 
tomed to gorge themselves with human flesh, 
it became extremely dangerous to pass the 
night in the open field, especially on the con- 
fines of a town. I pointed out plans by 
which it appeared to me they might succeed 
in extirpating them, but they seemed very 
indifferent to my suggestions; urging as a 
reason, that there was something not lucky 
in coming in contact with the blood of a 
hyena. 

One evening, long before retiring to rest, 
we heard, in the direction of the water pools, 
the screaming of women and children, as if 
they were in the greatest danger. 1 sent off 
a few men, who ran to the spot, and found 



64 RETRIBUTION. 

three children who had been drawmg water 
closely pursued by hyenas, which were on 
the point of seizing them. The men suc- 
ceeded in driving the animals away, on 
which they ran towards the women, whom 
the men also rescued. I understood that it 
frequently happened, that children sent to 
the pools for water nevfer returned. Many 
must thus be devoured in the course of a 
year, a reflection calculated to make any one 
shudder. 



RETRIBUTION. 

The infection of war and plunder was 
such, that scarcely a tribe or town in the 
whole country was exempt. The Batlapis, 
who of all the neighbouring tribes had suf- 
fered the least, owing to their proximity to 
our station, instead of being thankful for this, 
authorized one of their number, the king's 
brother, to go with a body of warriors and 
attack the outposts of the Bauangketsi. They 
proceeded as far as the Barolongs, where 
they met with the Chief Gontse, who re- 
ceived and fed them, being related to the 
royal family of the Batlapis. Gontse, who 
Avas an amiable and sensible man, dissuaded 
them from such a daring attempt, which ► 
could only terminate in their destruction. 
The chief of the party convinced of this, 
resolved on returning, but watching an op- 
portunity, when the cattle of the town where 



RETRIBUTION. 65 

they had received such hospitaUty and good 
counsel had gone to the fields, seized on 
them, and having two or three guns com- 
pelled their owners to flee. Elated with the 
success of this disgraceful achievement, they 
returned to the neighbourhood of our sta- 
tion. We said nothing on the subject, ex- 
cept that our hearts were sad. The chief of 
this band of robbers, induced his brother, 
Mothibi, to convene a public meeting, in 
order to make a kind of bravado. Spies and 
sycophants had been sent to hear our judg- 
ment on this subject, but they learned no- 
thing more or less than that " we were sorry." 
This having displeased him, after pointing 
out to the audience, that we missionaries 
were the only human beings in the world 
who did not steal cattle, he declared that in- 
stead of being thereby awed, he would show 
them and the tribes around, that if his name 
had hitherto been Molala (poor,) henceforth 
he would be a lion, and such should be his 
name. 

Thus he spoke, and departed with a com- 
pany to hunt. One afternoon, seeing a giraffe 
in the distance, he seized his spear, mounted 
his horse, and ordered his attendant to follow 
with his gun on another. The master being 
on the swiftest animal, and evening coming 
on, he disappeared on the undulating plain, 
and the servant returned to the rendezvous. 
Next day, the latter with some companions 
pursued the trail, found where his master 
had come up with the giraffe, and appeared 

6^ 



66 RETRIBUTION. 

to have made attempts to stab it, and then 
from the course he took, it was evident he 
had wandered. They slept, and with the 
returning day continued to pursue his foot- 
marks, which in the evening brought them 
to a spot where a number of hons had been. 
Beside a bush, where they supposed the 
chieftain had laid himself down the second 
night, they found the horse, killed by the 
lions, but scarcely touched, while the man, 
his clothes, shoes, saddle and bridle were 
eaten up, and nothing left but the skull. 
What was rather remarkable, the master, 
seeing he was leaving his servant in the rear, 
turned about and gave him his tinder-box 
for fear of losing it himself Had he retained 
this, he might have made a fire, which would 
have protected him from the lions, and led to 
his earlier discovery. This event was too 
striking to be overlooked by the people, who 
had frequently heard of a Divine Providence, 
but they were silent and endeavoured to re- 
lieve their minds by driving from their me- 
mories the visage and vain boastings of him, 
who had been devoured by the very beast of 
prey, whose name and powers were to be 
his motto, and the characteristics of his future 
actions. 



67 



THE LOCUSTS. 

After several years of drought, we had, 
in the early part of 1826, been blessed with 
plentiful rains, and the. earth was speedily 
covered with verdure; but our hopes of 
abundance were soon cut off by swarms of 
locusts, which infested every part of the 
country, devouring every species of vegeta- 
tion. They had not been seen for more than 
twenty years before, but have never entirely 
left the country since. They might be seen 
passing over like an immense cloud, extend- 
ing from the earth to a considerable height, 
producing, with their wings, a great noise. 
They always proceed nearly in the direction 
of the wind, those in advance descending to 
eat any thing they light upon, and rising in 
the rear, as the cloud advances. " They 
have no king, but they go forth, all of them, 
by bands," and are gathered together in one 
place in the evening, where they rest, and 
from their immense numbers they weigh 
down the shrubs, and lie at times one on the 
other, to the depth of several inches. In the 
morning when the sun begins to diffuse 
warmth, they take wing, leaving a large 
extent without one vestige of verdure; even 
the plants and shrubs are barked. Wherever 
they halt for the night, or alight during the 
day, they become a prey to other animals, 
and are eaten not only by beasts of prey, but 



68 THE LOCUSTS. 

by all kinds of game, serpents, lizards, and 
frogs. When passing through the air, kites, 
vultures, crows, and particularly the locust 
bird, as it is called, may be seen devouring 
them. When a swarm alights on gardens, or 
even fields, the crop for one season is de- 
stroyed. I have observed a field of young 
maize devoured in the space of two hours. 
They eat not only tobacco, and every thing 
vegetable, but also flannel and hnen. The 
natives embrace every opportunity of gather- 
ing them, which can be done during the 
night. Whenever the cloud alights at a 
place not very distant from a town, the in- 
habitants turn out with sacks, and often with 
pack-oxen, gather loads, and return the next 
day with millions. 

It has happened that in gathering them, 
individuals have been bitten by serpents, and 
on one occasion a woman had been travel- 
ling several miles with a large bundle of 
locusts on her head, when a serpent which 
had been put into the sack with them, found 
its way out. The woman supposing it to be 
a thong dangling about her shoulders, laid 
hold of it with her hand, and feeling that it 
was alive, instantly precipitated both to the 
ground, and fled. The locusts are prepared 
for eating, by simple boiling, or rather 
steaming, as they are put into a large pot 
with a little water, and covered closely up ; 
after boiling for a short time, they are taken 
out and spread on mats in the sun to dry, 
when they are winnowed, something like 



THE LOCUSTS. 69 

corn, to clear them of their legs and wings ; 
and when perfectly dry, are put into sacks, 
or laid upon the house floor in a heap. The 
natives eat them whole, adding a little salt 
when they can obtain it; or they pound 
them in a wooden mortar, and when they 
have reduced them to something like meal, 
they mix them with a little water, and make 
a kind of cold stir-about. 

When locusts abound, the natives become 
quite fat, and would even reward any old 
lady who said that she had coaxed them to 
alight within reach of the inhabitants. They 
are, on the whole, not bad food ; and when 
hunger has made them palatable, are eaten 
as matter of course. When well fed they 
are almost as good as shrimps. There is a 
species not eatable, with reddish wings, 
rather larger than those described, and 
which, though less numerous, are more de- 
structive. The exploits of these armies, fear- 
ful as they are, bear no comparison to the 
devastation they make before they are able 
to fly, in which state they are called 
"boyane." They receive a new name in 
every stage of their growth, till they reach 
maturity, when they' are called "letsie." 
They never emerge from the sand, where 
they were deposited as eggs, till rain has 
fallen to raise grass for the young progeny. 
In their course, from which nothing can di- 
vert them, they appear like a dark red stream, 
extending often more than a mile broad; 
and from their incessant hopphig, the dust 



70 THE LOCUSTS. 

appears as if alive. Nothing but a broad 
and rapid torrent could arrest their progress, 
and that only by drowning them; and if one 
reached the opposite shore, it would keep 
the original direction. A small rivulet avails 
nothing, as they swim dexterously. A line 
of fire is no barrier, as they leap into it till 
it is extinguished, and the others walk over 
the dead. Walls and houses form no impe- 
diment ; they climb the very chimneys, either 
obliquely or straight over such obstacles, 
just as their instinct leads them. All other 
earthly powers, from the fiercest lion to a 
marshalled army, are nothing compared with 
these diminutive insects. The course they 
have followed, is stripped of every leaf or 
blade of verdure. It is enough to make the 
inhabitants of a village turn pale to hear that 
they are coming in a straight line to their 
gardens. When a country is not extensive, 
and is bounded by the sea, the scourge is 
soon over, the winds carrying them away 
like clouds to the watery waste, where they 
alight to rise no more. Thus the immense 
flights which pass to the south and east, 
rarely return, but fresh supplies are always 
pouring down from the north. All human 
endeavours to diminish their numbers, would 
appear like attempting to drain the ocean by 
a pump. 



71 



THE THIEVES. 

It was not surprising that our scanty sup- 
pUes, which we were compeUed to procure 
from a distance, were seized by the hungry 
people. If our oxen or calves were allowed 
to wander out of sight, they were instantly 
stolen. One day two noted fellows from the 
mountains came down on a man who had 
the charge of our cattle, murdered him, and 
ran off with an ox. Some time before the 
whole of our calves disappeared ; two of our 
men went in pursuit, and found in the ruins 
of an old town the remains of the calves 
laid aside for future use. On tracing the 
footmarks to a secluded spot near the river, 
they found the thieves, two desperate looking 
characters, who, seizing their bows and poi- 
soned arrows, dared their approach. It 
would have been easy for our men to have 
vshot them on the spot, but their only object 
was to bring them, if possible, to the station. 
After a dangerous scuffle, one fled, and the 
other precipitated himself into a pool of 
water, amidst reeds, where he stood mena- 
cing the men with his drawn bow, till they 
at last succeeded in seizing him. He was 
brought to the station, with some of the 
meat, which, though not killed in the most 
delicate manner, was acceptable, and was 
the first veal we ever ate there; for calves 
.are too valuable in that country to be slaugh- 
tered, not only because they perpetuate the 



72 THE THIEVES. 

supply of milk from the cow, but are reared 
to use in travelling and agriculture. 

The prisoner had a most forbidding ap- 
pearance, and we could not help regarding 
him as a being brutalized by hunger; and, 
in addition to a defect in vision, he looked 
like one capable of perpetrating any action 
without remorse. His replies to our queries 
and expostulations were something like the 
growlings of a disappointed hungry beast of 
prey. There were no authorities in the 
country to which we could appeal, and the 
conclusion to which the people came, was to 
inflict a little castigation, while one of the 
natives was to whisper in his ear that he 
must flee for his life. Seeing a young man 
drawing near with a gun, he took to his heels, 
and the man firing a charge of loose powder 
after him, increased his terror, and made him 
bound into the marsh and flee to the opposite 
side, thinking himself well off to have esca- 
ped with his life, which he could not have 
expected from his own countrymen. He 
lived for a time at a neighboring village, 
where he was wont to describe in graphic 
style his narrow escape, and how he had 
outrun the musket ball. When told by some 
one that the gun was only to frighten him, he 
saw that it must have been so ; he reasoned 
on our character, made inquiries, and from 
our men sparing him in the first instance, and 
ourselves giving him food, and allowing him 
to run off after he had received a few strokes 
with a thong, he concluded that there must 



LIONS AT NIGHT. 73 

be something very merciful about our cha- 
racter ; and at last he made his appearance 
again on our station. He was soon after 
employed as a labourer, embraced the Gos- 
pel, and has, through divine grace, continued 
to make a consistent profession, and is be- 
come an example of intelligence, industry, 
and love. 



LIONS AT NIGHT. 

On the night of the third day's journey, 
having halted at a pool, (Khokhole,) we lis- 
tened on the lonely plain for the sound of an 
inhabitant, but all was silent. We could dis- 
cover no lights, and amid the darkness were 
unable to trace footmarks to the pool. We 
let loose our wearied oxen to drink and 
graze, but as we were ignorant of the cha- 
racter of the company with which we might 
have to spend the night, we took a firebrand 
and examined the edges of the pool, to see, 
from the imprints, what animals were in the 
habit of drinking there, and, with terror, dis- 
covered many spoors of lions. We immedi- 
ately collected the oxen, and brought them to 
the wagon, to which we fastened them with 
the strongest thongs we had, having disco- 
vered in their appearance something rather 
wild, indicating that, either from scent or 
sight, they knew danger was near. The 
two Barolongs had brought a young cow 



74 LIONS AT NIGHT. 

with them, and though I recommended their 
making her fast also, they very humorously 
rephed that she was too wise to leave the 
wagon and oxen, even though a hon should 
he scented. We took a httle supper, which 
was followed hy our evening hymn and 
prayer. I had retired only a few minutes 
to my wagon to prepare for the night, when 
the whole of the oxen started to their feet. 

A lion had seized the cow only a few steps 
from their tails, and dragged it to the distance 
of thirty or forty yards, where we distinctly 
heard it tearing the animal, and breaking its 
bones, while its hello wings were most pitiful. 
When these were over, I seized my gun, but 
as it was too dark to see any object at half 
the distance, I aimed at the spot where the 
devouring jaws of the lion were heard. I 
fired again and again, to which he replied 
with tremendous roars, at the same time ma- 
king a rush towards the wagon, so as exceed- 
ingly to terrify the oxen. The two Barolongs 
engaged to take firebrands, advance a few 
yards, and throw them at him, so as to afford 
me a degree of light, that I might take aim, 
the place being bushy. They had scarcely 
discharged them from their hands when the 
flame went out, and the enraged animal 
rushed towards them with such swiftness 
that I had barely time to turn the gun and 
fire between the men and the lion, and provi- 
dentially the ball struck the ground immedi- 
ately under his head, as we found by exa- 
mination the following morning. From this 



LIONS AT NIGHT, 75 

surprise he returned, growling dreadfully. 
The men darted through some thorn bushes, 
with countenances indicative of the utmost 
terror. It was now the opinion of all that 
we had better let him alone if he did not 
molest us. 

Having but a scanty supply of wood to 
keep up a fire, one man crept among the 
bushes on one side of the pool, while I pro- 
ceeded for the same purpose on the other 
side. I had not gone far, when, looking up- 
ward to the edge of the small basin, I dis- 
cerned between me and the sky four animals, 
whose attention appeared to be directed to 
me, by the noise I made in breaking a dry 
stick. On closer inspection, I found that the 
large, round, hairy-headed visitors were 
lions; and retreated on my hands and feet 
towards the other side of the pool, when 
coming to my wagon-driver, to inform him 
of our danger, I found him looking, with no 
little alarm, in an opposite direction, and 
with good reason, as no fewer than two 
lions, with a cub, were eyeing us both, ap- 
parently as uncertain about us as we were 
distrustful of them. They appeared, as they 
always do in the dark, twice the usual size. 
We thankfully decamped to the wagon, and 
sat down to keep alive our scanty fire, while 
we listened to the lion tearing and devouring 
his prey. When any of the other hungry 
lions dared to approach, he would pursue 
them for some paces, with a horrible howl, 
which made our poor oxen tremble, and 



76 LIONS AT NIGHT. 

produced any thing but agreeable sensations 
in ourselves. We had reason for alarm, lest 
any of the six lions we saw, fearless of our 
small fire, might rush in among us. The 
two Barolongs were grudging the lion his 
fat meal, and would now and then break the 
silence with a deep sigh, and expressions of 
regret that such a vagabond lion should have 
such a feast on their cow, which they antici- 
pated would have afforded them many a 
draught of luscious milk. Before the day 
dawned, having deposited nearly the whole 
of the carcase in his stomach, he collected 
the head, backbone, parts of the legs, the 
paunch, which he emptied of its contents, 
and the two clubs which had been thrown 
at him, and walked off, leaving nothing but 
some jfragments of bones, and one of my 
balls, which had hit the carcase instead of 
himself. 

When it was light we examined the spot, 
and found, from the foot-marks, that the lion 
was a large one, and had devoured the cow 
himself. I had some difficulty in believing 
this, but was fully convinced by the Baro- 
longs pointing out to me that the foot-marks 
of the other lions had not come within thirty 
yards of the spot, two jackals only had ap- 
proached to lick up any little leavings. The 
men pursued the spoor to find the fragments, 
where the lion had deposited them, while he 
retired to a thicket to sleep during the day. 
I had often heard how much a large, hungry 
lion would eat, but nothing less than a de- 



NIGHT ADVENTURE. 77 

monstration would have convinced me that 
it was possible for him to have eaten all the 
flesh of a good heifer, and many of the bones, 
for scarcely a rib was left, and even some of 
the marrow-bones were broken as if with a 
hammer. 



NIGHT ADVENTURE. 

Being in want of food, and not liking to 
spend a harassing day, exposed to a hot sun, 
on a thirsty plain, in quest of a steak, I went 
one night, accompanied by two men, to the 
water whence the supply for the town was 
obtained, as well as where the cattle came 
to drink. We determined to lie in a hollow 
spot near the fountain, and shoot the first 
object which might come within our reach. 
It was half moonlight, and rather cold, 
though the days were warm. We remained 
for a couple of hours, waiting with great 
anxiety for something to appear. We at 
length heard a loud lapping at the water, 
under the dark shadowy bank, within twenty 
yards of us. " What is that?" I asked Bo- 
gachu.- "Ririmala," (be silent,) he said; 
" there are lions, they will hear us." A 
hint was more than enough; and thankful 
were we, that, when they had drunk, they 
did not come over the smooth grassy surface 
in our direction. Our next visitors were 
two buffaloes, one immensely large. My 
wagon-driver, Mosi, who also had a gun, 



78 NIGHT ADVENTURE. 

seeing them coming directly towards us, 
begged me to fire. I refused, having more 
dread of a wounded buffalo than of almost 
any other animal. He fired; and though 
the animal was severely wounded, he stood 
like a statue with his companion, within a 
hundred yards of us, for more than an hour, 
waiting to see us move, in order to attack 
us. We lay in an awkward position for that 
time, scarcely daring to whisper; and when 
he at last retired we were so stiff with cold, 
that flight would have been impossible had 
an attack been made. We then moved about 
till our blood began to circulate. Our next 
visitors were two giraffes; one of these we 
wounded. A troop of quaggas next came ; 
but the successful instinct of the principal 
stallion, in surveying the precincts of the 
water, galloping round in all directions to 
catch any strange scent, and returning to the 
troop with a whistling noise, to announce 
danger, set them off at full speed. The next 
was a huge rhinoceros, which, receiving a 
mortal wound, departed. Hearing the ap- 
proach of more lions, we judged it best to 
leave; and after a lonely walk of four miles 
through bushes, hyenas and jackals, we 
reached the village, when I felt thankful, re- 
solving never to hunt by night at a water- 
pool, till I could find nothing to eat else- 
where. Next day the rhinoceros and buf- 
falo were found, which afforded a plentiful 
supply. 



79 



SINGULAR CUSTOM. 

A CUSTOM prevails among all the Bechu- 
anas whom I have visited, of removing to a 
distance from the towns and villages persons 
who have been wounded. Two young men 
who had been wounded by the poisoned ' 
arrows of the Bushmen, were thus removed 
from the Kuruman. Having visited them to 
administer relief, I made inquiries, but could 
learn no reason, except that it was a custom. 
This unnatural practice exposed the often 
helpless invahd to great danger; for, if not 
well attended during the night, his paltry 
Httle hut, or rather shade from the sun and 
wind, would be assailed by the hyena or lion. 
A catastrophe of this kind occurred a short 
time before my arrival among the Barolongs, 
The son of one of the principal chiefs, a fine 
young n:jan,had been wounded by a buffalo; 
he was, according to custom, placed on the 
outside of the village till he should recover; 
a portion of food was daily sent, and a per- 
son appointed to make his fire for the even- 
ing. The fire went out ; and the helpless 
man, notwithstanding his piteous cries, was 
carried off by a lion, and devoured. Some 
might think that this practice originated in 
the treatment of infectious diseases, such as 
leprosy; but the only individual I ever saw 
thus affected, was not separated. This disease, 
though often found among slaves in the co- 
lony, is unknown among the tribes in the 



80 THE NATIVE BLACKSMITH. 

interior, and therefore they have no name 
for it. 



THE NATIVE BLACKSMITH. 

Among the different tribes congregated in 
this wilderness part of the World, the Bahu- 
rutsian refugees were the most interesting 
and industrious. Having occasion to mend 
the linchpin of my wagon, I inquired for a 
native smith, when a respectable and rather 
venerable man with one eye, was pointed 
out. Observing from the cut of his hair, that 
he was a foreigner, and inquiring where he 
practised his trade, 1 was affected to hear 
him reply, "I am a Mohurutsi, from Kurre- 
chane/' I accompanied him to his shop, in 
an open yard at the back of his house. The 
whole of his implements consisted of two 
small goat-skins for bellows, some small bro- 
ken pots for crucibles, a few round green 
stone boulders for his anvil, a hammer made 
of a small piece of iron, about three-quarters 
of an inch thick, and rather more than two 
by three inches square, with a handle in a 
hole in the centre, a cold chisel, two or three 
other shapeless tools, and a heap of charcoal. 
" I am not an iron-smith,^' he said, " I work 
in copper;'^ showing me some of his copper 
and brass ornaments, consisting of ear-rings, 
arm-rings, &c. I told him I only wanted 
wind and fire. He sat down between his 



THE NATIVE BLACKSMITH. 81 

two goat-skins, and puffed away. Instead 
of using his tongs, made of the bark of a tree, 
I went for my own. When he saw them he 
gazed in silent admiration; he turned them 
over and over; he had never seen such inge- 
nuity, and pressed them to his chest, giving 
me a most expressive look, which was as 
intelligible as "Will you give them to me?" 
My work was soon done, when he entered 
his hut, from which he brought a piece of 
flat iron, begging me to pierce it with a num- 
ber of different sized holes, for the purpose 
of drawing copper and brass wire. Request- 
ing to see the old one, it was produced, 
accompanied by the feeling declaration, " It 
is from Kurrechane." 

Having examined his manner of using it, 
and formed a tolerable idea of the thing he 
wanted, I set to work; and finding his iron 
too soft for piercing holes through nearly 
an half-inch iron plate, I took the oldest of 
my two handsaw files to make a punch, 
which I had to repair many times. After 
much labour, and a long time spent, I suc- 
ceeded in piercing about twenty holes, from 
the eighth of an inch to the thickness of a 
thread. The moment the work was com- 
pleted, he grasped it, and breaking out into 
exclamations of surprise, bounded over the 
fence like an antelope, and danced about the 
village like a merry-andrew, exhibiting his 
treasure to every one, and asking if they ever 
saw any thing like it. Next day I told him, 
that as we were brothers of one trade, (for, 

7 



8J THE NATIVE BLACKSMITH. 

among the Africans, arts, though m their 
infancy, have their secrets too,) he must show 
me the whole process of melting copper, 
making brass, and drawing wire. The broken 
pot or crucible, containing a quantity of cop- 
per, and a little tin, was presently fixed in 
the centre of a charcoal fire. He then applied 
his bellows till the contents were fused. He 
had previously prepared a heap of sand, 
slightly adhesive, and by thrusting a stick 
about two eighths of an inch in diameter, 
like the ramrod of a musket, obhquely into 
this heap, he made holes, into which he 
poured the contents of his crucible. He then 
fixed a round, smooth stick, about three feet 
high, having a split in the top, upright in the 
ground, when, taking out his rods of brass, 
he beat them out on a stone with his little 
hammer, till they were about the eighth of 
an inch square, occasionally softening them 
in 3, small flame, made by burning grass. 
Having reduced them all to this thickness, 
he laid the end of one on a stone, and rub- 
bing it to a point on another stone, in order 
to introduce it through the largest hole of his 
iron-plate ; he then opened the split in the 
upright stick to hold fast the end of the wire, 
when he forced the plate and wire round the 
stick with a lever-power, frequently rubbing 
the wire with oil or fat. The same operation 
is performed each time, making the point of 
the wire smaller for a less hole, till it is re- 
duced to the size wanted, which is sometimes 
about that of thick sewing cotton. The wire 



HOUSES IN A TREE. 83 

is, of course, far inferior in colour and quality 
to our brass-wire. The native smiths, how- 
ever, evince great dexterity in working orna- 
ments from copper, brass, and iron. 



HOUSES m A TREE. 

Having travelled one hundred miles, five 
days after leaving Mosega we came to the 
first cattle outposts of the Matabele, when we 
halted by a fine rivulet. My attention was 
arrested by a beautiful and gigantic tree, 
standing in a defile leading into an extensive 
and woody ravine, between a high range of 
mountains. Seeing some individuals em- 
ployed on the ground under its shade, and 
the conical points of what looked like houses 
in miniature, protruding through its ever- 
green foliage, I proceeded thither, and found 
that the tree was inhabited by several fami- 
lies of Bakones, the aborigines of the country. 
I ascended by the notched trunk, and found, 
to my amazement, no less than seventeen of 
these aerial abodes, and three others unfinish- 
ed. On reaching the topmost hut, about thirty 
feet from the ground, I entered and sat down. 
Its only furniture was the hay which covered 
the floor, a spear, a spoon, and a bowl full of 
locusts. Not having eaten any thing that day, 
and from the novelty of my situation not wish- 
ing to return immediately to the wagons, I 
asked a woman who sat at the door, with a 



84 HOUSES IN A TREE. 

babe at her breast, permission to eat. This 
she granted with pleasure, and soon brought 
me more in a powdered state. Several more 
females came from the neighboring roosts, 
stepping from branch to branch, to see the 
stranger, who was to them as great a curi- 
osity as the tree was to him. I then visited 
the different abodes, which were on several 
principal branches. The structure of these 
houses was very simple. An oblong scaffold, 
about seven feet wide, is formed of straight 
sticks ; on one end of this platform a small 
cone is formed, also of straight sticks, and 
thatched with grass. A person can nearly 
stand upright in it; the diameter of the floor 
is about six feet. The house stands on the 
end of the oblong, so as to leave a little square 
space before the door. On the day previous 
I had passed several villages, some containing 
forty houses, all built on poles about seven or 
eight feet from the ground, in the form of a 
circle ; the ascent and descent is by a knotty 
branch of a tree placed in front of the house. 
In the centre of the circle there is always a 
heap of the bones of game they have killed. 
Such were the domiciles of the impoverished 
thousands of the aborigines of the country, 
who, having been scattered and peeled by 
Moselekatse, had neither herd nor stall, but 
subsisted on locusts, roots, and the chase. 
They adopted this mode of architecture to 
escape the lions which abounded in the coun- 
try. During the day the families descended 
to the shade beneath to dress their daily food. 



NATIVE ELOQUENCE. S5 

When the mhabitants increased, they sup- 
ported the augmented weight on the branches 
by upright sticks, but when hghtened of their 
load, they removed these for firewood. 

Asa proof of the necessity of such an ex- 
pedient as above described, I may add, that 
during the day, having shot a rhinoceros, we 
had reserved the hump of the animal to roast 
during the night. A large ant-hill was se- 
lected for the purpose, and being prepared by 
excavation and fire, this tit-bit was deposited. 
During the night, a couple of lions, attracted 
by the roast, drew near, and though it was 
beyond gun-shot, we could hear them dis- 
tinctly, as if holding council to wait till the 
fire went out, to obtain for themselves our 
anticipated breakfast. As the fire appeared 
to have gone out altogether, we had given up 
hope till morning light showed us that the 
lions had been in earnest, but the heat of the 
smouldering ant-hill had efiectually guarded 
our steak. 



NATIVE ELOQUENCE. 

On a Sabbath morning I ascended a hili^ 
at the base of which we had halted the pre- 
ceding evening, to spend the day. I had 
scarcely reached the summit, and sat down, 
when I found that my intelligent companion 
had stolen away from the party, to answer 
some questions I had asked the day before, 
and to which he could not reply, because of 



86 Js'ATIVE ELOQUENCE. 

the presence of his superiors. Happening to 
turn to the right, and seeing before me a 
large extent of level ground covered with 
ruins, I inquired what had become of the in- 
habitants. 

He had just sat down, but rose, evidently 
with some feeling, and, stretching forth his 
arm in the direction of the ruins, said, "I, 
even I, beheld it V^ and paused, as if in deep 
thought. "There lived the great chief of 
multitudes. He reigned among them like a 
king. He was the chief of the blue-coloured 
cattle. They were numerous as the dense 
mist on the mountain brow ; his flocks 
covered the plain. He thought the number 
of his warriors would awe his enemies. His 
people boasted in their spears, and laughed 
at the cowardice of such as had fled from 
their towns. ^ I shall slay them, and hang 
up their shields on my hill. Our race is a 
race of warriors. Who ever subdued our 
fathers? they were mighty in combat. We 
still possessthe spoils of ancient times. Have 
not our dogs eaten the shields of their no- 
bles? The vultures shall devour the slain of 
our enemies.' Thus they sang and thus 
they danced, till they beheld on yonder 
heights the approaching foe. The noise of 
their song was hushed in night, and their 
hearts were filled with dismay. They saw 
the clouds ascend from the plains. It was 
the smoke of burning towns. The confusion 
of a whirlwind was in the heart of the great 
chief of the blue-caloined cattle. This shout 



NATIVE ELOQUENCE. 87 

was raised, ^They are friends,' l)ut they 
siiouted again, ^ They are foes,' till their near 
approach proclaimed them naked Matabele. 
The men seized their arms, and rushed out, 
as if to chase the aaitelope. The onset was 
as the voice of lightning, and their spears as 
the shaking of a forest in the autumn storm. 
The Matabele hons raised the shout of death, 
and flew upon their victims. It was the 
shout of victory. Their hissing and hollow 
groans told their progress among the dead. 
A few moments laid hundreds on the ground. 
The clash of shields was the signal of 
triumph. Our people fled with their cattle 
to the top of yonder mount. The Matabele 
entered the town with the roar of the lion; 
they pillaged and fired the houses, speared 
the mothers, and cast their infants to the 
flames. The sun went down. The victors 
emerged from the smoking plain, and pur- 
sued their course, surrounding the base of 
yonder hill. They slaughtered cattle; they 
danced and sang till the dawn of day; they 
ascended, and killed till their hands were 
weary of the spear." Stooping to the ground 
on which he stood, he took up a little dust in 
his hand; blowing it off", and holding out his 
naked palm, he added, " That is all that re- 
mains of the great chief of the blue-coloured 
cattle!" It is impossible for me to describe 
my feelings while listening to this descriptive 
eflusion of native eloquence; and I after- 
wards embraced opportunities of writing it 
down, of which the above is only an abridg- 



88 THE CAPTIVE REDEEMED. 

merit. I found also from other aborigines 
that this was no fabled song, but merely a 
compendious sketch of the catastrophe. 



THE CAPTIYE REDEEMED. 

It has been before stated that I was accom- 
panied to Moselekatse by Mokatla, chief of 
the Bahurutsi. Dreading being driven with 
his subjects from his own native home and 
picturesque wilds, and the tombs of his fore- 
fathers, and perhaps extirpated, as other tribes 
had been — whose bones lay withering in the 
blast, on the plains and vales which lay in our 
course,— he placed himself and attendants un- 
der my protection, though I was myself a 
stranger, and had not seen the object of his 
terror, and that of the tribes around. He 
hoped that as the missionary character had 
recommended itself to him, also a savage, he 
might go and return unscathed, and obtain 
the friendship of one who, as he sometimes 
expressed it, "prevented his peaceful slum- 
bers." His attendants were respectable, all 
anticipating feasting and favour from one wfcio 
wallowed in the spoils of war. There ,#as 
one exception. This was a poor man, whose 
appearance, dress, and manner, informed me 
that he was truly the child of poverty, and 
perhaps of sorrow. This led me to take more 
notice of him than any other of the chiePs 
attendants. I felt sympathy for the man, 
supposing he had been compelled to follow 



THE CAPTIVE REDEEMED. 89 

the train of his chief, and leave behind him a 
family ill supplied, or some beloved member 
sick. No ; his downcast look arose from other 
causes. He had had two sons, about the ages 
of eight and ten. These had been absent in a 
neighbouring glen, when a party of Matabele 
warriors seized the boys, and carried them as 
spoils to head-quarters. He and his partner 
in affliction had for more than a year mourned 
the loss of their children, and, by taking a few 
trinkets and beads, his little stock of orna- 
ments, the father hoped to obtain their re- 
lease. After a journey of deep interest and 
a flattering reception, and days passed in fes- 
tivities and displays of kindness to the stran- 
gers, the man sent in his humble petition by 
one who could approach the presence of the 
king, offering the little he had to redeem his 
two boys. 

Some time afterwards the proprietor of his 
sons came and seated himself before my wa- 
gon, as I drew near to witness the transaction. 
The poor man spread his ragged mantle on 
the ground, and laid on it a few strings of 
beads and some native made ornaments, va- 
luable to him, but on which the haughty 
noble would scarcely deign to cast his eye. 
The father sighed to see his look of scorn. 
He then drew from his tattered skins, which 
he had brought with him, and on which he 
reposed at night, a small dirty bag, contain- 
ing a few more strings of half-worn beads, 
and placed them beside the former: these 
were borrowed. The scornful look was 

8 



yO THE CAPTIVE REBEEMEB. 

again repeated. He then took from his 
arms two old copper rings, and rings of the 
same material from his ears. The chief an- 
swered the anxious eyes of the now despond- 
ing father with a frown, and an indignant 
shake of the head. He then took from his 
neck the only remaining link of beads which 
he possessed, and which it was evident he 
had worn many a year. This, with an old, 
half-worn knife, he added to the offered ran- 
som. It was his all; and it is impossible ever 
to forget the expression of those eyes, which, 
though from national habit, they would not 
shed the tear of sorrow, were the index of 
the deepest anxiety as to the result. Nei- 
ther the man or his ornaments excited the 
smallest emotion in the bosom of the haughty 
chief, who talked with those around him 
about general affairs, maintaining the most 
perfect indifference to the object of paternal 
agony before his eyes. He at last arose ; 
and being solicited by one who felt some- 
thing of a father's love, to pity the old man, 
who had walked nearly two hundred miles, 
and brought his little al| to purchase his own 
children, he replied, with a sneer, that one 
had died of cold the preceding winter, and 
what the father offered for the other was not 
worth looking at; adding, "I want oxen." 
"I have not even a goat," replied the father. 
A sigh — it was a heavy sigh — burst from his 
bosom: — one dead, and not permitted even 
to see the other with his eyes. The chief 
walked off, while the man sat leaning his 



THE CAPTIVE REDEEMED. 91 

head on the palm of his right hand, and his 
eyes fixed on the ground, apparently lost to 
every thing but his now only son, now doubly 
dear from the loss of his brother, and he, alas ! 
far beyond his power to rescue. On taking 
up his mantle to retire, he and his party being 
obliged to leave early to return to the place 
whence they came, he was told to be of good 
cheer, and an effort would be made to get 
his son. He started at the sound, threw his 
mantle at my feet, and spreading out his 
hands to what he had offered, said, " Take 
these, my father, and pity me." " Retain 
them for yourself," was the reply. He 
kissed the hand of his pledged benefactor, 
and departed, saying, Ki tla na le boroko. 
"I shall have slumber," (peace of mind.) 

In the course of the following day, a fa- 
vourable moment was sought to bring the 
case before the king. He instantly ordered 
his brother, the individual who possessed the 
boy, to wait upon me, which he promptly 
did; and on receiving several pounds of a 
valuable kind of bead, he immediately de- 
spatched a messenger to bring the boy, who 
was at a distance, and who arrived the fol- 
lowing day. 

On my retifrn to Mosega, and approaching 
the base of one of those hills amidst which 
the town lay embosomed, a human being was 
seen rushing Jown the steep towards the wa- 
gons, with a rapidity that led us to fear that 
she would fall headlong. Every eye was 
upon her, while some said, " It is the alarm 



92 ESCAPE FROM A TIGER. 

of war." The wagon driver, who sat by 
me, most emphatically exclaimed, " It is a 
woman, either running from a lion or to save 
a child." Yes, it was the mother. She had 
heard from some of the party who preceded 
the wagons that morning, that her son was 
there : she had ascended the hill behind 
which the town lay, and gazed till the wa- 
gon emerged from a ravine. Frantic with 
joy, she ran breathless towards me. To pre- 
vent her coming in contact with the wagon 
wheels, I sprang to the ground, when she 
seized my hands, kissed and bathed them 
with her tears. She spoke not one word, 
but wept aloud for joy. Her son drew 
near, when she instantly rushed forward 
and clasoed him in her arms. 



ESCAPE FROM A TIGER. 

In one of my early journeys, I had an 
escape from an .African tiger and a serpent, 
no less providential. I had left the wagons, 
and wandered to a distance among the cop- 
pice and grassy openings in quest of game. 
I had a small doable-barrelled gun on my 
shoulder, which Avas loaded with a ball and 
small shot; an antelope passed, at which I 
fired, and slowly followed the course it took. 
After advancing a short distance, I saw a 
tiger-cat staring at me between the forked 
branches of a tree, behind which his long 



THE CONVERT. 93 

spotted body was concealed, twisting and 
turning his tail like a cat just going to spring 
on its prey. This I knew was a critical mo- 
ment, not having a shot of ball in my gun. 
1 moved about as if in search of something 
on the grass, taking care to retreat at the 
same time. After getting, as I thought, a 
suitable distance to turn my back, I moved 
somewhat more quickly, but in my anxiety 
to escape what was behind, I did not see 
what was before, until startled by treading on 
a large cobra de capello serpent, asleep on 
the grass. It instantly twirled its body round 
my leg, on which I had nothing but a thin 
pair of trowsers, when I leaped from the spot, 
dragging the venomous and enraged reptile 
after me, and while in the act of throwing 
itself into a position to bite, without turning 
round, I threw my piece over my shoulder, 
and shot it. Taking it by the tail, I brought 
it to my people at the wagons, who, on ex- 
amining the bags of poison, asserted, that 
had the creature bitten me, I could never 
have reached the wagons. The serpent was 
six feet long. 



THE CONVERT. 

Another of these grandmothers, who had 
wallowed in the very sewers of heathenism, 
the dupe of all the superstitions of former 
times, had been an active agent of the wicked 



94 THE CONVERT. 

one in opposing the progress of the Gospel. 
As the representative of bygone ages — for 
the snows of many a year were seen through 
the mass of grease and dirt which adorned 
her head — she was regarded with reverence 
by the younger females on the station, as the 
oracle of ancient wisdom. She was wont to 
tell them what they knew not, of the cus- 
toms of their ancestors. Had she been a man, 
her contaminating influence would long have 
been arrested; for there were those on the 
station whose influence would have driven 
her to seek an asylum elsewhere, but she was 
borne with because she was a woman. She 
hated the very sight of the place of worship, 
and had taught many to blaspheme. One 
day she entered the chapel in quest of a child, 
and was constrained to sit a few minutes. 
She had not heard many sentences, when 
she fled from the hated spot. On the Sab- 
bath following she came again, when all 
who saw her felt alarmed, lest violence was 
intended against some one; but she quietly 
heard the voice of mercy, and retired in an 
orderly manner. In the course of a few days 
she came to the author in a state bordering 
on distraction. "My sins, my sms!" was 
the language of her lips; tears streaming 
down her already furrowed cheeks. Her half 
frantic soul would hear no comfort, nor listen 
to any counsel. Night after night she would 
call me out of bed, to tell her Avhat was to 
become of her soul. One day, meeting her 
in the street, with both hands she grasped 



THE CONVERT. 95 

mine, and, as if her heart would break, ex- 
claimed, "To Kve I cannot — I cannot die." 
Again she was directed to the Lamb of God, 
and the fomitain opened for her sins ; but she 
interrupted, by saying, " You say the blood 
of Christ cleanses from all sins; do you know 
the number of mine ? Look to yonder grassy 
plain, and count the blades of grass or the 
drops of dew ; these are nothing to the amount 
of my transgressions." After continuing in 
this state several weeks, she was enabled to 
believe, when the being who once persecuted 
and cursed all who bore the Christian name, 
a mass of filth, which had given her haggard 
and aged form an unearthly look, was found 
sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed, and in 
her right mind, adoring the riches of Divine 
grace, to one who was, as she would describe 
herself, " like the mire of the street." Ke- 
marking to her one day, that, from her con- 
stant attendance on every means of instruc- 
tion, she seemed like the Psalmist of old, 
desiring " to dwell in the house of the Lord 
forever," she replied, " I am old in the v/orld, 
but I am still a child in the school of Christ." 
She continued fervent in spirit; the subject 
of Divine mercy and love so completely 
absorbing all the powers of her mind, that 
when visited in seasons of affliction, it was 
difficult to elicit any thing about her disease; 
for, if her answer commenced with the flesh, 
it was certain to end with the spirit. When 
subscriptions were making for the Auxiliary 
Missionary Society, she one day brought in 



96 MISSIONARY SUCCESS. 

her hand her mite, a pumpkin; and when 
my wife remarked that she might retain it, 
and she would put down her name for a 
small sum, her soul seemed to melt within 
her, while she asked, " Who is so great a 
debtor to the Saviour as I am? Is it too 
small? I shall go and borrow another/' 
This was verily the widow's mite, and was 
doubtless followed by the widow's reward* 



MISSIONARY SUCCESS. 

Some months previous to these changes, 
Aaron Josephs, who was once a runaway 
slave, but who had, through the kind inter- 
ference of G. Thompson, Esq., obtained his 
manumission for the sum of fifteen hundred 
rix-dollars, the proceeds of ivory he had col- 
lected for that purpose, left his farm for a 
time, and came to reside at the station, for 
the sake of the education of his children, as 
well as to improve himself in reading and 
writing. 

Both he and his wife were steady and 
industrious, having come from the colony, 
where they had enjoyed some advantages. 
He, also, was awakened to a sense of his 
danger, and having a tolerably extensive 
knowledge of divine truth, he was soon a 
candidate for Christian fellowship, and was, 
with his three children, baptized at the same 
time with our own infant. The scene, from 



MISSIONARY SUCCESS. 97 

the previous state of feeling, was deeply im- 
pressive and exciting. Notwithstanding all 
our endeavours to preserve decorum in the 
crowded place of worship, strong feeling 
gave rise to much weeping and considerable 
confusion; but, although it was impossible 
to keep either order or silence, a deep im- 
pression of the divine presence was felt. 
The work which had commenced in the 
mmds of the natives received an additional 
impulse from the above circumstance ; so 
that the sounds predominant throughout the 
village were those of singing and prayer. 
Those under concern held pra5^er meetings 
from house to house, and when there were 
none able to engage in prayer, they sang till 
a late hour, and before morning dawned, 
they would assemble again at some house 
for worship, before going to labour. We 
were, soon after this interesting occurrence, 
delighted with further results. Aaron and 
two other men came and offered to take upon 
themselves the labour and expense of raising 
a school-house, which would serve as a place 
of worship, till one for that special purpose 
was erected. All they required was the plan, 
and the doors and windows, with their frames, 
which they would also have made, but they 
lacked ability. This department, of course 
Mr. Hamilton thankfully undertook. It was 
a voluntary act on their part, without the 
subject having been once hinted at. We had 
scarcely laid down the plan, fifty-one feet 
long by sixteen wide, when Aaron, who was 



98 MISSIONARY SUCCESS. 

by trade both builder and thatcher, set all in 
motion. The season happened to be a rainy 
one, and as the walls were made of clay, 
there were serious interruptions ; but it was 
nevertheless soon completed ; for all who felt 
interested in the work, even women and 
children, gave what assistance was in their 
power, carrying clay, laths from the bushes, 
materials for thatch, or whatever else could 
contribute to its erection. It afforded us no 
small gratification to see the building finished 
with zeal equal to that with which it was 
commenced. Many important improve- 
ments were at the same time made in the 
outward affairs of the mission, in which 
there was no lack of native assistance, while 
the language and translations were attended 
to, to supply the wants of those who were 
now beginning to thirst after divine know- 
ledge. 

The building was opened in the month of 
May, 1829, and in the following month we 
selected from among the inquirers six can- 
didates for baptism. This was not done 
without much prayer and deliberation. — 
These had given us very satisfactory proofs 
of a change of heart. After particular pri- 
vate examination, separately, they were 
found to possess a much larger knowledge 
of divine truth than was expected ; and 
their answers were most satisfactory. It 
was truly gratifying to observe the simplicity 
of their faith, implicitly relying on the atone- 
ment of Christ, of which they appeared to 



MISSIONARY SUCCESS. 99 

have a very clear conception, considering the 
previous darkness of their minds on such sub- 
jects. They were therefore baptized on the 
first Sabbath of July, when other circum- 
stances concurred to impart additional in- 
terest to the solemnity. It appeared as if it 
had been the design of Providence to call 
together, from all quarters, an unusual and 
most unexpected number of spectators from 
Philippolis, Campbell, Griqua Town, and 
Boochuap. From these places there were 
present about fifty Griquas, who happened 
to congregate here previous to their proceed- 
ing on a hunting expedition. These were 
suitably and profitably impressed with what 
transpired, for they themselves had been for 
some time previous in a lukewarm state, and 
were thus awakened to a jealousy about their 
own condition, by seeing the Bechuanas pres- 
sing into the fold of Christ, while they by 
their backslidings were being thrust out, and 
to this we frequently afterwards heard that 
people bear testimony. 

There were also present parties from dif- 
ferent places of the interior, who had come 
for purposes of barter. The place of wor- 
ship was crowded to excess, and the greatest 
interest excited by a scene which was indeed 
a novelty to many, the service being con- 
ducted in the Bechuana language. After a 
sermon on John i. 29, a suitable address was 
given to the candidates, and when a number 
of questions had been asked, they were bap- 
tized, with five of their children. Among 



100 MISSIONARY SUCCESS. 

them was Rachel, the wife of Aaron, whom 
Mr. Hamilton addressed in Dutch, she being 
more conversant with that language ; the 
others were Bechuanas. In the evening we 
sat down together to commemorate the death 
of our Lord. Our number, including our- 
selves and a Griqua, was twelve. It was an 
interesting, cheering, and encouraging season 
to our souls ; and we concluded the delightful 
exercises of the day by taking coffee together 
in the evening. Our feelings on that occa- 
sion were such a,s our pen would fail. to de- 
scribe. We were as those that dreamed, 
while we realized the premise on which our 
souls had often hung. ''He that goeth forth 
and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall 
doubtless come again with rejoicing, bring- 
ing his sheaves with him.'^ The hour had 
arrived on which the whole energies of our 
souls had been intensely fixed, when we 
should see a church, however small, gathered 
from among a people who had so long boast- 
ed that neither Jesus, nor we, his servants, 
should ever see Bechuanas worship and con- 
fess him as their King. 

It is only necessary to glance at the records 
of that mission from its commencement, to be 
able in some measure to conceive the emo- 
tions such a change produced on our minds. 
We had long felt assured, that when once the 
Spirit was poured out from on high, and when 
some of the natives had made a public pro- 
fession of their faith in the Redeemer of the 
world, or, in other words, when Jehovah 



MISSIONARY SUCCESS. 101 

should perform his promise, great would be 
the company of those who would publish or 
bear witness to the same. In this expecta- 
tion we have been fully borne out by the 
number of missionaries who have since en- 
tered the country, the chapels which have 
been built, the schools raised, the crowded 
audiences and flourishing churches which 
have succeeded, not only at our own stations, 
but at those of the French and Wesleyan 
missionaries ; and extending from the Win- 
ter Bergen, which bound Kafraria, to the 
Kalagare desert on the west. 

Great as was the change, we still rejoiced 
with trembling ; having too often witnessed 
the successful attempts of Satan to frustrate 
our efl"orts, and blast our former hopes, to 
imagine that he who had hitherto reigned 
without a rival among the tribes, would 
calmly submit to the violence done to his 
ancient rights, without attacking us on fresh 
ground. His kingdom had at last been suc- 
cessfully assailed, and a breach made, but he 
who had lately roared so loud might roar 
again. We therefore felt we needed a double 
portion of the Spirit that we might be watch- 
ful to preserve, as well as to win souls. A 
great work had yet to be done before we 
could dare to glory. We knew that there 
were many prejudices to be overcome, much 
rubbish to be cleared away. The relation in 
which the believers stood to their heathen 
neighbours would expose their faith to trial. 
Some of them were a kind of serfs of others, 



102 PREACHING TO THE NATIVES. 

who would rage at any innovation made on 
their former habits, all of which were con- 
genial to sensual men, and opposed alike to 
conversion and civilization. But we prayed 
and believed that he who had begun a good 
work would carry it on. 



PREACHING TO THE NATIVES. 

On reaching his village, after having tra- 
velled the whole day over a rough and bushy 
country, and walked much, I was fit only to 
throw myself down to sleep. The moment 
I entered the village, the hue and cry was 
raised, and old and young, mother and child- 
ren, came running together as if it were to 
see some great prodigy. I received an affec- 
tionate welcome, and many a squeeze, while 
about five hundred human beings were thrust- 
ing themselves forward, each exerting himself 
to the utmost of his power to get a shake of 
the hand. Some, who scarcely touched it, 
trembled as if it had been the paw of a lion. 
It was nearly midnight before they would 
disperse, but their departure was a great re- 
lief to a wearied man, for their exclamations 
of surprise, and their bawling out to one an- 
other in two languages, was any thing but me- 
lodious. On awaking from a short sleep, and 
emerging from my canopy, before my eyes 
Avere thoroughly open, I was astonished to 
find a congregation waiting before the wa- 



PREACHING TO THE NATIVES. 103 

gon, and at the same moment some individ- 
uals started off to different parts of the village 
to announce my appearance. All hastened 
to the spot. I confess I was more inclined 
to take a cup of coffee than to preach a ser- 
mon, for I still felt the fatigues of the prece- 
ding day. I took my Testament and a hymn 
book, and with such singers as I had, gave 
out a hymn, read a chapter, and prayed; 
then taking the text, " God so loved the 
world," etc., discoursed to them for about 
an hour. Great order and profound silence 
were maintained. The scene was in the 
centre of the village, composed of Bechuana 
and Coranna houses and cattle folds. Some 
of these contained the cattle, sheep and goats, 
while other herds were strolling about. At 
a distance a party were approaching riding 
on oxen. A few strangers drew near with 
their spears and shields, who, on being beck- 
oned to, instantly laid them down. The na- 
tive dogs could not understand the strange 
looking being on the front of the wagon, 
holding forth to a gazing throng, and they 
would occasionally break the silence with 
their bark, for which, however they suffered 
the penalty of a stone or stick hurled at their 
heads. Two milk-maids, who had tied their 
cows to posts, stood the whole time with their 
milking vessels in their hands, as if afraid of 
losing a single sentence. The earnest atten- 
tion manifested exceeded any thing I had 
ever before witnessed, and the countenances 
of some indicated strong mental excitement. 



104 PREACHING TO THE NATIVES. 

The majority of my hearers were Bechu- 
anas, and but few of the Corannas could not 
understand the same language. 

After service, I walked to an adjoining 
pool, in the bed of the river, to refresh my- 
self with a wash, hoping on my return to get 
something like a breakfast, but found, owing 
to some mistake, that the kettle was not boil- 
ing. The people were again assembling, and 
again requested me to preach. On begging 
half an hour for refreshment, the chief's wife 
hobbled off to her house, and immediately 
returned with a large wooden vessel full of 
sour milkj saying, with a smile on her coun- 
tenance, " There, drink away ; drink much, 
and you will be able to speak long.'' Hav- 
ing cheerfully accepted this hasty African 
breakfast, I resumed my station, and preach- 
ed a second time, to, if possible, a still more 
attentive congregation. When I had con- 
cluded, my hearers divided into companies, 
to talk the subject over, but others, more in- 
quisitive, plied me with questions. While 
thus engaged, my attention was arrested by 
a simple looking young man, at a short dis- 
tance, rather oddly attired. He wore what 
was once a pair of trowsers, with part of one 
leg still remaining. For a hat he had part 
of the skin of a zebra's head, with the ears 
attached, and something not less fantastic 
about his neck. I had noticed this grotesque 
figure before, but such sights are by no means 
uncommon, as the natives will hang any thing 
about their bodies, either for dress or orna- 



TEACHING THE LETTERS. 105 

ment, without the sUghtest regard to appear- 
ance. The person referred to was holding 
forth with great animation to a number of 
people, who were all attention. On ap- 
proaching, I found, to my surprise, that he 
was preaching my sermon over again, with 
uncommon precision, and with great solem- 
nity, imitating as nearly as he could the ges- 
tures of the original. A greater contrast 
could scarcely be conceived than the fan- 
tastic figure I have described, and the solem- 
nity of his language, his subject being eter- 
nity, while he evidently felt what he spoke. 
Not wishing to disturb him, I allowed him to 
finish the recital, and seeing him soon after, 
told him he could do what I was sure I could 
not, that was, preach again the same sermon 
verbatim. He did not appear vain of his 
superior memory. " When I hear any thing 
great," he said, touching his forehead with 
his finger, " it remains there.'' This young 
man died in the faith shortly after, before an 
opportunity was afforded him of making a 
public profession. 



TEACHING THE LETTERS. 

It was now late, and both mind and body 
were jaded, but nothing would satisfy them ; 
I must teach them also. After a search, I 
found, among some waste paper, a large sheet 
alphabet, with a corner and two letters torn 

9 



106 TEACHING THE LETTERS. 

off. This was laid down on the ground, 
when all knelt in a circle round it, and of 
course the letters were viewed by some stand- 
ing just upside down. I commenced point- 
ing with a stick, and when I pronounced 
one letter, all hallooed out to some purpose. 
When I remarked that perhaps we might 
manage with somewhat less noise, one re- 
plied, he was sure the louder he roared, the 
sooner would his tongue get accustomed to 
the "seeds,'^ as he called the letters. As it 
was growing late, I rose to straigthen my 
back, which was beginning to tire, when I 
observed some young folks coming dancing 
and skipping towards me, who, without any 
ceremony, seized hold of me. "Oh, teach us 
the ABC with music," every one cried, 
giving me no time to tell them it was too late. 
I found they had made this discovery through 
one of my boys. There were presently a 
dozen or more surrounding me, and resis- 
tance was out of the question. Dragged and 
pushed, I entered one of the largest native 
houses, which was instantty crowded. 

The tune of "Auld lang syne" was pitch- 
ed to A B C, each succeeding round was 
I joined by succeeding voices till every tongue 

was vocal, and every countenance beamed 
, with heartfelt satisfaction. The longer they 

' sang the more freedom was felt, and Auld 

lang syne was echoed to the farthest corner 
of the village. The strains which infuse 
pleasurable emotions into the sons of the 
north, were no less potent among these chil- 



TEACHING THE LETTERS. 107 

dren of the South. Those who had retired 
to their evening's shimbers, supposing that 
we were holding a night service, came; "for 
music/' it is said, "charms the savage ear." 
It certainly does, particularly the natives of 
Southern Africa, who, however degraded 
they may have become, still retain that re- 
finement of taste, which enables them to ap- 
preciate those tunes which are distinguished 
by melody and softness. After two hours' 
singing and puffing, I obtained permission, 
though with some difficulty of consent, and 
greater of egress, to leave them, now com- 
paratively proficient. It was between two 
and three in the morning. Worn out in 
mind and body, I laid myself down in my 
wagon, cap and shoes and all, just to have 
a few hours' sleep, preparatory to departure 
on the coming day. As the "music hall" 
was not far from my pillow, there was little 
chance of sleeping soundly, for the young 
amateurs seemed unwearied, and A B C to 
Auld lang syne went on till I was ready to 
wish it at John-o'-Groat's house. The com- 
pany at length dispersed, and awaking in the 
morning after a brief repose, I was not a lit- 
tle surprised to hear the old tune in every 
corner of the village. The maids milking 
the cows, and the boys tending the calves, 
were humming their alphabet over again. 



108 CHANGE EFFECTED. 



CHANGE EPFECTED. 

When I went among the Griquas, and for 
some time after, they were without the small- 
est marks of civilization. If I except one 
woman, (who had by some means got a tri- 
fling article of colonial raiment,) they had 
not one thread of European clothing among 
them; and their wretched appearance and 
habits were such as might have excited in 
our minds an aversion to them, had we not 
been actuated by principles which led us to 
pity them, and served to strengthen us in 
pursuing the object of our missionary work; 
they were, in many instances, little above the 
brutes. It is a fact, that we were among them 
at the hazard of our lives. This became evi- 
dent from their own acknowledgments to us 
afterwards, they having confessed that they 
had frequently premeditated to take away 
our lives, and were prevented only from ex- 
ecuting their purposes by what they now 
considered an Almighty power. When we 
went among them, and some time after, they 
lived in the habit of plundering one another; 
and they saw no moral evil in this, nor in 
any of their actions. Violent deaths were 
common ; and I recollect many of the aged 
women told me their husbands had been 
killed in this way. Their usual manner of 
living was truly disgusting, and they were 
void of shame ; however, after a series of 
hardships, which required much faith and 



CHANGE EFFECTED. 109 

patience, our instructions were attended with 
a blessing which produced a great change. 
The people became honest in their dealings ; 
they came to abhor those acts of plunder 
which had been so common among them; 
nor do I recollect a single instance, for seve- 
ral years prior to their late troubles, which 
could be considered as a stain upon their cha- 
racter. They entirely abandoned their for- 
mer manner of life, and decency and modesty 
prevailed in their families. When we first 
settled among them, we had some Hottentots 
with us from the Zak river. With their as- 
sistance we began to cultivate the ground 
about Riet Fonteyn; but, notwithstanding 
our exhortations, remonstrances, and exam- 
ple, the Griquas manifested the greatest aver- 
sion to such work, and appeared determined 
to continue their wandering and predatory 
habits. At the end of six months the Hot- 
tentots left us ; and our prospects as to the 
future cultivation of the ground, became very 
gloomy. We determined, however, to abide 
by them ; and in wandering about with them 
we constantly endeavoured to impress upon 
their minds the superior advantages they 
would derive from cultivating the ground, 
and having fixed habitations. After a con- 
siderable time had elapsed, we prevailed 
upon them to try the experiment, and a com- 
mencement was made. This event was pre- 
ceded and followed by a great and visible 
improvement among them as a body. Con- 
sidering the circumstances of the people. 



110 CHANGE EFFECTED. 

much land was cultivated at this time ; and 
in the following years the land under culti- 
vation was much increased. I have seen 
the whole valley, from the Fountain to the 
Lion's Den, which must include four square 
miles, covered with corn and barley. This 
refers to Griqua Town alone; and the ground 
around the neighbouring fountains was in a 
similar state of improvement. 



Ill 



THE CONTEST. 



Would'st thou view the lion's den ? 
Search afar from haunts of men — 
Where the red encircled rill 
Oozes from the rocky hill, 
By its verdure far descried 
'Mid the desert brown and wide. 

Close beside the sedgy brim 
Couchant lurks the lion grim ; 
Watching till the close of day 
Brings the death-devoted prey. 
Heedless, at the ambushed brink, 
The tall giraffe stoops down to drink: 
Upon him straight the savage springs 
With cruel joy. The desert rings 
With clanging sound of desperate strife — 
The prey is strong and strives for life. 
Plunging oft with frantic bound. 
To shake the tyrant to the ground — 
He shrieks — he rushes through the waste 
With glaring eye and headlong haste. 
In vain !— the spoiler on his prize 
Rides proudly — tearing as he flies. . 



112 THE CONTEST. 

For life — the victim's utmost speed 

Is mustered in this hour of need : 

For life — for life — his giant might 

He strains, and pours his soul in flight ; 

And, mad with terror, thirst, and pain. 

Spurns with wild hoof the thundering plain. 

'Tis vain ; the thirsty sands are drinking 

His streaming blood — his strength is sinking ; 

The victor's fangs are in his veins — 

His flanks are streaked with sanguined strains — 

His panting breast in foam and gore 

Is bathed — he reels — his race is o'er : 

He falls — and, with convulsive throe. 

Resigns his throat to the ravening foe. 

— And lo ! ere quivering life has fled, 

The vultures, wheeling overhead. 

Swoop down, to watch, in gaunt array. 

Till the gorged tyrant quits his prey. 



THE END. 



r 



